News Release National Grid, Re-Tree WNY announce major grants for re-forestation effort after October storm (photo on right) National Grid's Dennis Elsenbeck shakes hands with Re-Tree co-chairman David Colligan as Paul Maurer, Re-Tree WNY co-chairman looks on BUFFALO (Oct. 11) -- National Grid today announced it is supporting the broad effort to mitigate the devastating impact of the October 2006 snowstorm on Western New York’s trees through grants special program allocations totaling $175,000. These funds will be used in the storm-affected communities the company serves in the region. The company will partner with Re-Tree WNY, the volunteer organization formed shortly after the 2006 storm with a goal of planting 30,000 trees throughout the affected region over the next five years. David Colligan, Paul Maurer, and National Grid's Dennis Elsenbeck plant some new trees on Sagamore Terrace in North Buffalo The National Grid donations include economic and charitable grants, along with an extension of an existing company program that will support municipal efforts to re-forest public rights-of-way. "We know first-hand the many effects of that surprise storm," said Dennis Elsenbeck, Vice President of Business Services for National Grid in Western New York. "Now, almost a full year later, the full impact is being seen as trees continue to suffer from the stress of so much damage, and so many neighborhoods and communities continue to lose their forest canopy." National Grid and Re-Tree WNY will use the economic and charitable grants to purchase approximately 1,000 trees for the late fall planting season in the communities affected by the storm. The grants will also support a volunteer recruitment effort to assist with the planning. "As we prepare for our massive fall tree planting, this very generous contribution helps our effort greatly. We have needs in all these areas that this National Grid donation provides-for: trees, of course, but also a large amount of volunteers to activate on the November planting weekends that are scheduled," said Paul Maurer, founder and co-chairman of Re-Tree WNY. A special allocation of $50,000 is being made through the company’s 10,000 Trees and Growing program specifically for areas in Western New York affected by the October storm. Municipalities or charitable organizations can apply for reimbursement of costs associated with replanting of trees under National Grid overhead facilities. To be eligible, plantings must meet program guidelines designed to help communities plant appropriate species in specific locations to help protect utility infrastructure. Information about the 10,000 Trees program is mailed annually to all communities in the National Grid service territory in upstate New York. More than 265,000 National Grid customers lost electrical service during the October 2006 storm, some for as long as ten days as the company and communities worked to remove trees and debris from downed power lines. More than 4,000 National Grid employees and contractors were directly involved in service restoration after the storm hit the area. "No one wants to be without electricity for even a little while, yet the response from this community to our crews during the restoration effort was outstanding," Elsenbeck said. "This is an appropriate way for us to recognize the impact of this storm on the communities we serve, and give back to our customers who were so patient and supportive during the restoration." The company also sponsored Carvings for a Cause, a volunteer effort that is using the talent of various artists to make lasting tributes to the fallen trees. National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island, and manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority. National Grid is the largest power producer in New York State, owning 6,650 megawatts of electricity generation that provides power to over one million LIPA customers and supplies roughly a quarter of New York City’s electricity needs. It is also the largest distributor of natural gas in the northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.