Potomac Edison Launches Utility Pole Recycling Program

Rhea-AI Summary

Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), has initiated a utility pole recycling program in Maryland and West Virginia, aimed at sustainability. This program allows used poles to be repurposed for various applications such as fencing and landscaping, significantly reducing landfill waste. Each participating service center will collect poles and work with Blackwood Solutions for distribution at no cost to interested parties. The program, first piloted in 2020, highlights FirstEnergy's commitment to environmental responsibility in its operations.

Positive

• Initiative aligns with sustainability goals by recycling and repurposing utility poles.
• Reduces landfill waste, contributing to a more eco-friendly business model.
• Used poles can provide material benefits to local farmers and charities.

Negative

• None.

WILLLIAMSPORT, Md., Feb. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), has launched a pole recycling program in its Maryland and West Virginia service territory as part of FirstEnergy's companywide sustainability initiative to recycle and repurpose utility poles.

Potomac Edison will store used utility poles that will be redistributed to other parties – such as farmers, mills, charitable organizations and even employees – for direct reuse. Alternative uses for poles typically include fencing, parking bollards, guide rail posts, landscaping or treated wood construction.

"We are committed to reducing waste and improving our recycling efforts, and this is an exciting opportunity for us to adopt a more environmentally friendly practice and find new uses for secondhand utility poles," said Linda Moss, president of FirstEnergy's Maryland operations. "We look forward to full implementation of this program across Potomac Edison's service territory in 2022."

If a utility pole is no longer fit for use, Potomac Edison will remove any utility hardware from the pole and store it at one of its participating service centers. Each pole, which weighs roughly 50 pounds per cubic foot, must be at least eight feet in length to be part of the reuse program.

When a Potomac Edison service center has collected a full load of approximately 30 poles, the company will work with Blackwood Solutions, a transportation and materials management firm, to pick them up and distribute them for reuse. The poles will be delivered at no cost to interested parties who are willing to accept a full load, can be accessed by tractor trailer and are located within a certain distance from the collection sites.

In the past, Potomac Edison's discarded poles had been cut into smaller pieces and stored on site until a waste management company took them to a landfill for disposal. The program is expected to reduce Potomac Edison's waste stream significantly over time, as most poles weigh between 300 and 4,100 pounds. The pole recycling program was first piloted in 2020 at Ohio Edison, a FirstEnergy electric subsidiary in Ohio, and also was launched last year in the company's Mon Power service territory in West Virginia.

Potomac Edison serves about 275,000 customers in all or parts of Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, and Washington counties in Maryland and 151,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Follow Potomac Edison at www.potomacedison.com, on Twitter @PotomacEdison, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PotomacEdison.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com and on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What is Potomac Edison launching in Maryland and West Virginia?

Potomac Edison is launching a utility pole recycling program to repurpose used utility poles as part of its sustainability initiative.

What are the benefits of the utility pole recycling program for FirstEnergy (FE)?

The program helps reduce landfill waste and allows repurposed poles to serve useful functions, enhancing environmental sustainability.

When did FirstEnergy begin the pole recycling program?

The pole recycling program was first piloted in 2020 at Ohio Edison and is now being implemented in Potomac Edison's service territory in 2022.

How does the utility pole recycling program work?

Used utility poles will be collected by service centers, and once enough are gathered, they will be distributed for reuse by interested parties at no cost.

What types of applications can used utility poles be repurposed for?

Used poles can be repurposed for fencing, landscaping, parking bollards, and other construction uses.