October 06, 2022

FAIRMONT — A local electric company will be giving away 1,500 trees in Elkins City Park Friday and Saturday during the 84th Mountain State Forest Festival.

The FirstEnergy electric company Mon Power will hand out Redbud, Red Maple, Red Oak and Serviceberry trees at the festival’s Conservation Village located at the Elkins City Park on Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

“The Mountain State Forest Festival highlights the critical role that natural resources play in West Virginia’s culture and economic development. As one of West Virginia’s largest festivals, it’s an ideal venue for our largest tree giveaway in the state this year,” said Carol Trembly, a senior scientist with FirstEnergy who leads the company’s tree planting initiative.

FirstEnergy will also provide 600 reusable tote bags for children visiting the Conservation Village during the festival’s Kids Day today.

Green Team members from Mon Power – “a group of employees who volunteer their time and talents to support a wide variety of environmental initiatives,” a FirstEnergy press release states –will be handing out the trees and tote bags.

The giveaway is part of a larger company initiative to plant 20,000 trees in 2022. Nearly 16,000 trees have already been planted at parks and nature reserves throughout FirstEnergy’s six-state service territory so far this year. Tree plantings and giveaways support FirstEnergy’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, promote the responsible use of natural resources and further the advancement of sustainable practices.

“The Mountain State Forest Festival highlights the critical role that natural resources play in West Virginia’s culture and economic development. As one of West Virginia’s largest festivals, it’s an ideal venue for our largest tree giveaway in the state this year,” said Carol Trembly, a senior scientist with FirstEnergy who leads the company’s tree planting initiative.

In addition to the tree giveaway, FirstEnergy is donating $2,000 to the Mountain State Forest Festival this year. Mon Power is also making an in-kind donation valued at $10,000 by providing crews, trucks and equipment to set up the logs for the festival’s annual Lumberjack Contest Saturday at Davis & Elkins College.

Mon Power serves about 395,000 customers in 34 West Virginia counties.