Rhode Island giving away 1,000 free trees

Rhode Island homeowners looking to beautify their property and save a little on their utility bills are being offered free trees through a state Department of Environmental Management program.

Registration for the Energy-Saving Trees program, in partnership with the Rhode Island Tree Council, the Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association, and the Arbor Day Foundation, is now underway.

When planted properly, and in the right location, a single tree can save homeowners money on energy costs by shading their home in the summer and blocking winter winds. They also improve air quality, reduce stormwater runoff, and beautify surroundings.

“Planting a tree in the right place can improve air quality, sequester carbon, and help manage stormwater runoff,” department Agriculture and Forestry Chief Ken Ayars said in a statement. “It’s a terrific way for Rhode Islanders to reduce their energy costs today and in the years to come, and a tangible way to stand up to climate change.”

The trees, four to six feet tall, will be distributed at one of four sites around the state in late April and early May.