Special to the Times
As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability and strong environmental stewardship, Eversource is partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation for the third year in a row to distribute more than 1,000 free trees to customers in select communities across its three-state service territory. This year, customers in New Bedford and Pittsfield will be eligible to reserve a complimentary tree through the company’s innovative Energy-Saving Trees program and take advantage of the many benefits trees provide.
Through this initiative, customers will have access to an interactive platform that allows them to view their property and find the best location to plant their tree to conserve energy, as well as calculate estimated environmental benefits and annual cost savings. Using the online portal that launched this week, eligible customers can reserve one free tree per household on a first-come, first-served basis and choose from a list of species ranging from Eastern Redbud and Flowering Dogwood to River Birch and Sweetbay Magnolia. The program will continue until all trees are reserved, and distribution events are planned in each community for late April or early May.
“From providing shade and cleaner air to supporting biodiversity, planting the right tree in the right location not only promotes positive environmental benefits for entire communities, but it also helps keep the power flowing for customers and promotes the ongoing reliability of the electric system,” said Eversource Manager of Vegetation Management Christopher Gonzalez. “We’re excited to be giving away hundreds of trees again this year through our partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation so we can help our customers learn about the importance of planning before they plant and how properly placed trees can also lead to long-term energy savings. This valuable initiative is just another example of how we’re working every day to be responsible environmental stewards and foster sustainable growth in the communities we serve while ensuring the delivery of safe, reliable electricity for our customers.”
“Thriving tree canopies are a fundamental part of building strong, healthy communities, and we’re grateful to partner with companies like Eversource that are committed to enhancing sustainability in the cities and towns they serve,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “By encouraging people to plant trees with purpose today, this partnership is creating positive, lasting change for years to come.”
Since 2024, Eversource has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to bring community tree distribution events directly to various communities across Massachusetts, including Framingham, Springfield, West Springfield and Waltham – helping customers experience the benefits of strategic tree planting and supporting municipalities in advancing their own sustainability goals.
“Framingham was fortunate to host Eversource’s free community tree distribution in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, which promotes strategic tree planting to reduce energy demand,” said City of Framingham Tree Warden Rebecca Nau. “The use of siting tools to aid species selection and placement was particularly valuable in helping ensure trees are planted where they can provide measurable benefits without creating conflicts with infrastructure or utilities. Efforts like this can contribute to both energy efficiency and the long-term health and resilience of Framingham’s urban forest.”
Eversource works year-round to advance educational partnerships with arborists, municipalities, students and the public about planting the right tree in the right place. For more information about the energy company’s nationally recognized sustainability efforts, please visit Eversource.com. For registration and portal assistance, please contact the Arbor Day Foundation by calling 1-855-234-3801.
Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its commitment to sustainability and corporate citizenship, is named among America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek for 2026 and recognized as the #1 utility on USA Today’s list of America’s Climate Leaders for 2025. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to 2.3 million customers throughout Massachusetts, including approximately 1.62 million electric customers in 159 communities, 641,000 gas customers in 125 communities, and 12,000 water customers in five communities. Eversource harnesses the commitment of more than 10,500 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 Energy Efficiency Provider in the Nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like a first-in-the-nation networked geothermal pilot project, solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.
The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they’ve answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners. And this is only the beginning.
The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at arborday.org.