June 27, 2025

From utility corridors to office lawns, employees are turning everyday spaces into flourishing gardens that support pollinators and connect communities. The native wildflowers and grasses aren’t just pretty; they’re vital lifelines for bees, butterflies, birds and other pollinators.

Pollinators play a huge role in sustaining ecosystems – helping plants reproduce. According to Pollinator Partnership, a nonprofit organization dedicated to pollinator protection and organizer of Pollinator Week, their populations are declining due to the loss of feeding and nesting habitats.

“Pollinators are key to our ecosystem and food supply,” said Jessica Shaffer, Advanced Scientist and Green Teams Lead. “By planting these gardens, we’re enhancing biodiversity and sustainably giving back to our communities.”

What started as a pilot program to cultivate biodiverse habitats along our transmission lines has blossomed into a symbol of the company’s environmental stewardship commitment. Over the past five years, employees have planted and restored more than 280 acres of pollinator-friendly landscapes. That’s like turning more than 210 football fields into buzzing, blooming sanctuaries for bees, butterflies and other pollinators – one shovel, one seed at a time.

We’ve teamed up with schools, environmental groups, local leaders and residents to bring these gardens to life. The spaces often serve as outdoor classrooms where students learn about conservation and the power of community.

“We’re proud to create spaces where pollinators and communities can thrive,” said Jessica.

Pollinator gardens are just one of the ways we show care for the environment. Our company’s environmental programs span initiatives including tree donations, wildlife protection projects, old wooden pole recycling and reuse of power plant byproducts for construction materials.

“We’re all about reducing our environmental footprint, boosting sustainability and making the surrounding ecosystems healthier and happier,” she added.