We are pleased to announce that City Light has received the 2026 Tree Line USA award! This marks the 13th consecutive year that the Arbor Day Foundation has recognized our commitment to protecting urban trees while delivering reliable electricity service to our communities.
What is Tree Line USA?
The Tree Line USA program recognizes utilities that meet the highest standards in tree care and power line management. To qualify, utilities must excel in these five key areas:
- Caring for trees to maintain their health while ensuring safe power-line operations.
- Training employees in best practices for tree and utility management.
- Educating the public about tree care near power lines.
- Conserving energy through strategic tree planting to support an efficient power grid.
- Celebrating Arbor Day by engaging the public in tree planting activities.
“This award shows our ongoing dedication to balancing the needs of our urban forest while demands of a reliable power grid. Trees are vital to our community’s health, environment, and economy, and we’re proud to lead the way in sustainable utility practices.”
— Whit Bouton, Utility Urban and Community Forest Lead
Why this award matters
The Tree Line USA recognition highlights the benefits of our efforts for the greater Seattle area:
- Lower costs: Healthy trees reduce maintenance expenses for power lines.
- Improved reliability: Proper tree management reduces outages.
- Stronger communities: Trees enhance our environment, providing cleaner air, shade, and green spaces.
Our work shows that trees and utilities can work together, benefiting both our infrastructure and our community.
Planting for a greener future
Together with our community partners, we’re creating a greener, healthier Seattle for everyone. Thank you to our employees, partners, and community members who make this work possible. Your support helps us build a sustainable energy future and a healthy urban forest.
Want to learn more about Tree Line USA? Visit arborday.org/TreeLineUSA for more information.