In response to the TREES Act re-introduced in the House today, American Forests Vice President of Urban Forests Policy Joel Pannell released the following statement:

This past summer was the hottest on record, but some felt these sweltering temperatures more intensely than others, as extreme heat disproportionately impacts our most vulnerable communities. Congress and the Biden-Harris administration have made historic investments in the power of trees through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, but more is needed to best employ the life-saving and money-saving power of forest-climate solutions.

The bipartisan TREES (Trees for Residential Energy and Economic Savings) Act embraces the opportunity to create additional capacity for urban and community forestry in our communities by providing resources to boost tree canopy in residential areas, focusing on disadvantaged areas. By investing in cost-share grants for tree planting through the U.S. Department of Energy, this legislation facilitates public-private partnerships with utility companies, states, cities and towns with the support of a whole-of-government approach.

This holistic approach to expanding equitable tree canopy will empower communities to maximize shade, providing the cooling and cleaning benefits of trees while simultaneously lowering energy bills for residents. Each year, trees planted near homes reduce heating and cooling energy consumption by 7% annually, which amounts to $7.8 billion in reduced energy costs. The right trees planted in the right place can reduce summer air conditioning costs by as much as 50%, not only by providing shade but by blocking wind.

The bipartisan TREES Act embraces the power of trees and prioritizes low-income communities to create cooler, more equitable neighborhoods while reducing energy consumption. American Forests applauds Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Representative Emanuel Cleaver, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick and Representative John Sarbanes for their leadership in reintroducing this bill and encourages other congressional leaders to advance this needed legislation into law to save the American taxpayer money while creating cooler, more equitable communities.