Environmental specialist Jeff Luzenski provides a look at a pollinator-friendly right of way in...

Powering pollinator research

Birds do it and bees do it. Oh, and butterflies, too. Pollination that is.

About three quarters of our major food crops require pollinators, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

As a utility managing more than 50,000 acres of land in right-of-way easements under our power lines, PPL Electric is in a unique position to help provide a pollinator-friendly habitat. The company is currently conducting research to find the best plants for both pollinators and power lines.

Over the course of several years, Jeff Luzenski, senior environmental professional for PPL Electric, has been supporting an internal research project to develop a cost-effective seed mix of native, pollinator-friendly plants that can be used during restoration of transmission line and substation projects.

In addition to providing an ideal habitat for pollinators, the right mix of native plantings would save costs by potentially requiring less vegetation management and treatment. Lower-profile plants also have the benefit of providing enhanced visibility when inspecting power lines.

“That’s a win-win-win for pollinators, the company and customers,” Jeff Luzenski, senior environmental professional for PPL Electric said.
Learn more about PPL’s environmental conservation efforts at www.pplsustainability.com

April 11, 2019

Tagged with: