I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5867 
To establish a grant program to assist retail power providers with the estab-
lishment and operation of energy conservation programs using targeted 
residential tree-planting, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 22, 2008 
Ms. MATSUI introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To establish a grant program to assist retail power providers 
with the establishment and operation of energy conserva-
tion programs using targeted residential tree-planting, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Energy Conservation 
Through Trees Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds that— 
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(1) the utility sector is the largest single source 
of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States 
today, producing approximately one-third of the 
country’s emissions; 
(2) heating and cooling homes accounts for 
nearly 60 percent of residential electricity usage in 
the United States; 
(3) shade trees planted in strategic locations 
can reduce residential cooling costs by as much as 
30 percent; 
(4) shade trees have significant clean-air bene-
fits associated with them; 
(5) every 100 healthy large trees removes about 
300 pounds of air pollution (including particulate 
matter and ozone) and about 15 tons of carbon diox-
ide from the air each year; 
(6) tree cover on private property and on newly- 
developed land has declined since the 1970s, even 
while emissions from transportation and industry 
have been rising; and 
(7) in over a dozen test cities across the United 
States, increasing urban tree cover has generated 
between two and five dollars in savings for every dol-
lar invested in such tree planting. 
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SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
As used in this Act: 
(1) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ refers to the Sec-
retary of Energy. 
(2) The term ‘‘retail power provider’’ means 
any entity authorized under applicable State or Fed-
eral law to generate, distribute, or provide retail 
electricity, natural gas, or fuel oil service. 
(3) The term ‘‘tree-planting organization’’ 
means any nonprofit or not-for-profit group which 
exists, in whole or in part, to— 
(A) expand urban and residential tree 
cover; 
(B) distribute young trees for planting; 
(C) increase awareness of the environ-
mental and energy-related benefits of trees; 
(D) educate the public about proper tree 
planting, care, and maintenance strategies; or 
(E) carry out any combination of the fore-
going activities. 
(4) The term ‘‘tree-siting guidelines’’ means a 
comprehensive list of science-based measurements 
outlining the species and minimum distance required 
between trees planted pursuant to this Act, in addi-
tion to the minimum required distance to be main-
tained between such trees and— 
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(A) building foundations; 
(B) air conditioning units; 
(C) driveways and walkways; 
(D) property fences; 
(E) preexisting utility infrastructure; 
(F) septic systems; 
(G) swimming pools; and 
(H) other infrastructure as deemed appro-
priate. 
SEC. 4. PURPOSES. 
The purpose of this Act is to establish a grant pro-
gram to assist retail power providers with the establish-
ment and operation of targeted residential tree-planting 
programs, for the following purposes: 
(1) Reducing the peak-load demand for elec-
tricity in residential areas during the summer 
months through direct shading of buildings provided 
by strategically planted trees. 
(2) Reducing wintertime demand for energy in 
residential areas by blocking cold winds from reach-
ing homes, which lowers interior temperatures and 
drives heating demand. 
(3) Protecting public health by removing harm-
ful pollution from the air. 
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(4) Utilizing the natural photosynthetic and 
transpiration process of trees to lower ambient tem-
peratures and absorb carbon dioxide, thus mitigating 
the effects of climate change. 
(5) Lowering electric bills for residential rate-
payers by limiting electricity consumption without 
reducing benefits. 
(6) Relieving financial and demand pressure on 
retail power providers that stems from large peak- 
load energy demand. 
(7) Protecting water quality and public health 
by reducing stormwater runoff and keeping harmful 
pollutants from entering waterways. 
(8) Ensuring that trees are planted in locations 
that limit the amount of public money needed to 
maintain public and electric infrastructure. 
SEC. 5. GENERAL AUTHORITY. 
(a) ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary is authorized to 
provide financial, technical, and related assistance to retail 
power providers to assist with the establishment of new, 
or continued operation of existing, targeted residential 
tree-planting programs. 
(b) PUBLIC RECOGNITION INITIATIVE.—In carrying 
out the authority provided under this Act, the Secretary 
shall also create a national public recognition initiative to 
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encourage participation in tree-planting programs by re-
tail power providers. 
(c) ELIGIBILITY.—Only those programs which utilize 
targeted, strategic tree-siting guidelines to plant trees in 
relation to residence location, sunlight, and prevailing 
wind direction shall be eligible for assistance under this 
Act. 
(d) REQUIREMENTS.—In order to qualify for assist-
ance under this Act, a tree-planting program shall meet 
each of the following requirements: 
(1) The program shall provide free or dis-
counted shade-providing or wind-reducing trees to 
residential consumers interested in lowering their 
home energy costs. 
(2) The program shall optimize the electricity- 
consumption reduction benefit of each tree by plant-
ing in strategic locations around a given residence. 
(3) The program shall either— 
(A) provide maximum amounts of shade 
during summer intervals when residences are 
exposed to the most sun intensity; or 
(B) provide maximum amounts of wind 
protection during fall and winter intervals when 
residences are exposed to the most wind inten-
sity. 
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(4) The program shall use the best available 
science to create tree siting guidelines which dictate 
where the optimum tree species are best planted in 
locations that achieve maximum reductions in con-
sumer energy demand while causing the least disrup-
tion to public infrastructure, considering overhead 
and underground facilities. 
(5) The program shall receive certification from 
the Secretary that it is designed to achieve the goals 
set forth in paragraphs (1) through (4). In desig-
nating criteria for such certification, the Secretary 
shall collaborate with the United States Forest Serv-
ice’s Urban and Community Forestry Program to 
ensure that certification requirements are consistent 
with such above goals. 
(e) NEW PROGRAM FUNDING SHARE.—The Sec-
retary shall ensure that no less than 30 percent of the 
funds made available under this Act are distributed to re-
tail power providers which— 
(1) have not previously established or operated 
qualified tree-planting programs; 
(2) are operating qualified tree-planting pro-
grams which were established no more than three 
years prior to the date of enactment of this Act. 
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