猫咪社区 recently partnered with Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) and FirstEnergy's New Jersey Green Team to enhance the campus landscape through a community tree planting initiative focused on sustainability, environmental stewardship, and student engagement.
As part of FirstEnergy's Community Tree Program, approximately 100 tree saplings were donated and planted across the College campus and at the Public Safety Training Academy. The trees included a variety of native and regionally appropriate species such as Redbud, Sweetgum, Black Gum, and Pin Oak. While FirstEnergy employees volunteered their time and expertise during the planting, Sussex students volunteered their time to support the project.
The tree planting is part of a much larger environmental commitment by FirstEnergy. In 2025, FirstEnergy Green Teams helped plant more than 30,000 trees across the company's five-state service territory, bringing the total number of trees planted since 2020 to more than 131,000. In New Jersey, JCP&L employees have already helped plant and distribute more than 1,850 trees in 2026 across the utility's communities.
鈥淭he Community Tree Program is just one component of our commitment to environmental stewardship,鈥� said Alix Hayes, JCP&L鈥檚 Green Team Lead. 鈥淭hrough innovative recycling programs, tree and pollinator garden events and community revitalization efforts, JCP&L鈥檚 Green Team members are able to volunteer their time and expertise to build greener, cleaner and healthier places to work, live and raise a family in the Garden State.鈥�
FirstEnergy's Community Tree Program is designed to support local municipalities, schools, and nonprofit organizations by providing trees that improve air quality, increase energy efficiency, expand tree canopy coverage, and enhance natural habitats. The program also helps replace trees lost to storms, invasive species, and development while promoting long-term environmental sustainability.
The tree planting project further strengthens the growing relationship between 猫咪社区 and FirstEnergy. In September 2025, the FirstEnergy Foundation awarded a $10,000 grant to support the College's Electrical Lineworker Student Support Initiative. The funding helped establish a tool-loaner program that provides climbing belts, fall-protection equipment, and safety gear to students who might otherwise face financial barriers to entering or completing the program.
FirstEnergy continues to invest in both the future workforce and the communities it serves. The tree planting initiative not only beautifies the 猫咪社区 campus but also provides a lasting environmental benefit that students, employees, and visitors will enjoy for generations to come.