ATC

Energizing Your Future

Planting programs

PROGRAM STATUS: Accepting application June 1 through Sept. 30

Plant vegetation in your community, the smart and safe way

Trees and vegetation are among the features that make communities special places for residents and visitors. We offer two ways for applicants to create green spaces by planting vegetation.

Community Planting Program

As an owner and operator of the electric transmission system, it is ATC’s responsibility to adhere to state and federal regulations, easements and best practices that require us to keep tall-growing vegetation out of the transmission line rights-of-way. ATC’s Community Planting Program encourages the growth of trees or tall‑growing vegetation the smart way – a safe distance away from electric transmission lines. This program provides financial support to eligible cities, villages, towns, counties and tribes in our service area for planting projects on public property, outside transmission line rights-of-way.

ATC’s Community Planting Program is also designed to help support the initiatives of the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program. We’ve partnered with the DNR’s Urban Forestry group to help educate communities interested in learning more about this program.

Pollinator Habitat Program

ATC’s Pollinator Habitat Program provides funding for site preparation; purchasing seed, plugs or plants; labor and installation; or other activities to establish quality pollinator habitat within a transmission line right-of-way. This type of compatible vegetation can thrive within transmission line rights‑of‑way, making utility corridors ideal for pollinators –which benefit from the utility corridor as a flight path. Cities, villages, towns, counties, tribes and entities that allow public access to ATC rights-of-way (e.g. nature preserves, non-profits or public land managers) within ATC’s service area are eligible to apply for financial support of projects through the Pollinator Habitat Program.

How the programs work

Awards range from $100 to $5,000, based on funding, and we will support planting projects for public areas that can be enjoyed by the entire community. Plantings must meet ATC’s Pollinator Habitat Program or Community Planting Program criteria and our vegetation management standards. ATC will not support plans that call for trees to be planted within a transmission line right‑of‑way.

Applications for the Community Planting Program and Pollinator Habitat Program are accepted July 1 through Sept. 30 each year, and recipients will be selected by the end of the calendar year. Entities may submit only one application per program, annually. ATC reserves the right to discontinue either of these programs at any time. If you have any questions about these programs, please contact:

Program winners – 2022-2023

The following Wisconsin entities received amounts ranging from $500 to $5,000 through the Pollinator Habitat Program:

Village of BristolTown of Ledgeview

The following Wisconsin and Michigan entities received amounts ranging from $500 to $5,000 through the Community Planting Program:

Village of Bayside, Wis.Ozaukee County, Wis.
City of Brillion, Wis.
Village of Rock Spring, Wis.
City of Greenfield, Wis.City of Stanley, Wis.
Village of Howard, Wis.
Sheboygan County, Wis.
City of Iron Mountain, Mich.City of Stevens Point, Wis.
Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy (Williams Bay, Wis.)Urban Tree Alliance (Madison, Wis.)
Town of Ledgeview, Wis.Village of Waunakee, Wis.
Village of Little Chute, Wis.City of Waupaca, Wis.
Mequon Nature Preserve (Mequon, Wis.)

Read the blog post here.