City hopes BGE up to tree-mendous challenges ahead By ANNETTE ESTERHELD Staff Writer
Is Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. being too aggressive with its current tree cutting program? Some Bowie residents may wonder when they drive by Buckingham Park in the coming weeks. Buckingham Park, on Barberry Lane between Buckingham Drive and Beechfern Lane, has many white pine trees around the perimeter of the approximately 10-acre park. Unfortunately those pine trees and other scrub trees are too close to the power lines.
BGE has determined that 98 trees need to be removed as part of its overall Reliability Improvement Program that's designed to increase electric reliability in Bowie. According to John Fitzwater, assistant city manager, the city has requested that BGE remove an additional 41 trees, mostly white pines, because of the adverse impact removing the 98 trees would have on the remaining 41 trees.
"White pines are a problem child," Fitzwater told the Blade-News. "It was a tough call to make asking BGE to cut the additional trees."
He said in all 139 trees will be cut by BGE. The work will begin around June 30.
"It's a significant impact," he said. "What they will cut will be very visible for awhile. BGE plans to replace 98 trees, but the replanting will not begin until October because we don't want to plant in the summer."
Fitzwater said it's a "fine line to walk" because if you leave the trees, you risk continued power outages, but if you cut the trees, you lose the tree canopy.
He said residents in the Buckingham Park area have been notified about the tree cutting. He said BGE has sent letters and the city sent a letter this week. "Some of the trees are on private property and BGE will have to get permission to cut the trees. For that they will make individual contact with residents," he said.
"Folks are not happy about the tree cutting, but we need to keep a balance between losing trees and less power outages," said Fitzwater.
Councilwoman Diane Polangin, whose District 2 includes Buckingham, told her colleagues Monday night at the council meeting that she daily gets e-mails and phone calls from constituents complaining about tree removal.
"I want to know if BGE is being too aggressive," she said. Polangin asked the city staff to prepare a report for the council on whether the BGE plan that includes extensive tree cutting should continue as is, be modified or be suspended.
Councilwoman At-large Geraldine Valentino-Smith said she was also getting many complaints from residents about the tree cutting. She said she understands the "trade off to get reliability," but she asked if the state's Public Service Commission could evaluate BGE's progress.
"I agree with Councilwoman Polangin's request," said Councilman At-large Dennis Brady. He asked that the report go a step further and make an assessment if BGE's efforts are improving reliability.
He said he wanted the report to look at whether the tree cutting is "aggressive," but to factor in if what they're doing is successful.
Mayor G. Fred Robinson asked the staff to provide a summary report for the council's July 7 meeting. He asked for an assessment of whether BGE is "on target."
Fitzwater said it was not unusual for the council to request that the BGE program be monitored and assessed. He said the city staff will comply with the council's request to provide a report for the July 7 meeting.
Also at Monday's meeting, Bill Jahn, chairman of the BGE/citizen task force, presented the group's final report. The task force was established in May 2007 to examine infrastructure improvement including feeder line performance, equipment issues, tree trimming and a wide range of customer service/communication issues.
He reported that BGE has taken action to improve electric service reliability and to improve communications with Bowie residents. He said that the BGE plan includes a $25 million investment in Bowie that includes equipment and infrastructure improvements to 12 of the city's 21 feeder lines.
Jahn said the work of the task force is completed and the group, as requested by the City Council, will continue to meet on a quarterly basis to monitor electric reliability improvements that result from BGE's Reliability Action Plan.
