FirstEnergy Corp. said it planted more than 30,000 trees across its service territory in 2025 and plans to donate and plant more than 26,000 additional trees in 2026 as part of its ongoing effort to promote greener, healthier communities.
The tree-planting effort, which began in 2020, surpassed the company’s annual goal in 2025 with the help of employee volunteers and community partners. Since the program’s launch, FirstEnergy employees have helped plant 131,000 trees in partnership with parks, schools and local organizations, the company said.
Much of the work is carried out by FirstEnergy’s Green Teams, groups of employees who volunteer together on environmental initiatives. The teams focus on planting native tree species in locations selected to avoid conflicts with power lines and to support local ecosystems.
“Nearly 800 FirstEnergy employees volunteered their time to help make our communities greener, cleaner and a more beautiful place to live, work and raise a family,” said Jessica Shaffer, Advanced Scientist and Lead of FirstEnergy’s Green Teams. “These trees are planted in strategic locations, safely away from power lines. We live and work in some of the most beautiful states in the country, and we’re committed to giving back by creating greener, cleaner and healthier communities.”
In 2025, employees volunteered at 151 tree-planting events, contributing 3,438 hours to the effort. More than half of the events took place in underserved communities, according to the company.
By state, tree donations and plantings in 2025 included nearly 14,000 trees in Ohio, more than 6,000 in Pennsylvania, over 7,000 across West Virginia and Maryland, and more than 2,000 in New Jersey. Hundreds of employees participated in dozens of events across the region.
In addition to tree plantings, FirstEnergy’s Green Teams also established 26 community gardens in 2025, totaling more than 113,000 square feet. The gardens are intended to support pollinators and strengthen local ecosystems.
Looking ahead to 2026, FirstEnergy said it plans to plant and donate more than 26,000 trees in partnership with nonprofit organizations and community groups. Native species including red maple, hickory, oak and dogwood are planned for the initiative, which the company said will help improve air quality, support watershed health and enhance neighborhood green spaces.
More information about FirstEnergy’s environmental and corporate responsibility initiatives is available at fecorporateresponsibility.com.
