Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that the New York Power Authority (NYPA) is distributing 1,650 trees to 49 customers across the state as part of its 2025 Tree Power program. This marks the largest annual distribution since the program began in the late 1990s and supports Hochul’s goal of planting 25 million trees by 2033.
“Tree planting and reforestation are essential for enhancing New York State’s environmental health and resilience, while also safeguarding public well-being,” Governor Hochul said. “We are proud to support these communities that are contributing to our statewide sustainability goals and improving public health in their own neighborhoods. The Tree Power program not only boosts sustainability but also promotes equity by providing critical resources to underserved areas.”
The program offered incentives for plantings in disadvantaged areas this year. Eligible state and local governments, municipal electric utilities, and rural electric cooperatives placed orders in the spring, with NYPA matching purchases one-for-one up to $5,000 per customer. More than 900 trees were donated through this match. For plantings in disadvantaged communities, NYPA provided a two-for-one match.
NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, “Power Authority customers and surrounding communities receive significant economic and environmental benefits when they plant trees, including improved building energy efficiency, support for native biodiversity, and hardening the environment against weatherization. The Power Authority’s Tree Power program promotes sustainability, environmental stewardship and community engagement, and this year’s record of 1,650 trees in nearly 50 communities is a strong show of progress.”
Delivery dates vary by location; recipients are encouraged to plant soon.
Since its inception in 1992, Tree Power has focused on increasing native tree habitat to support biodiversity throughout New York State. Customers worked with account managers and vendors to select species suited for their regions.
Planting trees helps improve water quality by redirecting stormwater into soil rather than streets—reducing flooding—and can lower energy consumption for buildings by providing shade in summer or acting as windbreaks during winter.
Cari Ficken, NYPA Sustainability Program Manager said: “The Tree Power program actively supports the sustainability goals of our customers, who are often the very entities invested in helping keep New York State green and making it a nicer, more environmentally pleasing place to live. In addition to helping communities to achieve their energy goals, lower carbon emissions and reduce power costs, the Tree Power program helps enhance the aesthetics of neighborhoods and public spaces and contributes to overall quality of life in New York communities.”
Since 2016 more than 9,700 trees have been planted through this initiative—sequestering over 500 metric tons of carbon emissions—and providing an estimated $2 million worth of energy savings and quality-of-life benefits across New York.
Over twenty recipients this year are located within Westchester County—including Port Chester; Mount Vernon; Irvington; Scarsdale; Greenburgh; White Plains; Pelham Manor; Tuckahoe; Croton; Larchmont; New Rochelle—and some areas such as Ossining Village qualified for additional funding due to being designated disadvantaged communities. Other beneficiaries include locations across Western New York (such as Salamanca), several Finger Lakes sites as well as Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) facilities.
Michael Pawloski from NYSDOT stated: “NYSDOT will plant the 78 trees procured through the Tree Power Program on Earth Day in 2026. This program does not just provide trees. It provides cleaner air, stronger ecosystems and healthier tomorrows.”
Communities plan to use these new trees for park beautification or schoolyard shading while agencies intend roadside plantings.
Additionally this year NYPA will add another 22 trees at its St. Lawrence-FDR facility property near Massena.
Governor Hochul launched her ‘25 Million Trees by 2033’ initiative during her 2024 State of the State Address. The related website includes a tool allowing residents statewide to track their own tree planting contributions toward this goal.
NYPA operates seventeen generating facilities along with over fifteen hundred miles of transmission lines throughout New York State—producing primarily renewable hydropower—and finances operations mainly via bond sales or electricity revenues (www.nypa.gov).
