Customers of Alliant Energy can take advantage of a program that provides trees at a discounted price. Emma Bruemmer, with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says her agency first joined with the utility company to promote the Operation ReLeaf program in 2001.
Since then, she says they’ve held 113 ReLeaf events and 17,735 customers have purchased 43,189 new trees. Upcoming ReLeaf events are scheduled in Clarinda, Fairfield, Marion, Marshalltown and Creston. Alliant customers can purchase a maximum of two trees for $25 each. The trees typically retail for $65 or more.
Bruemmer says there’s a wide variety of tree species offered. She says customers can chose an oak, maple, conifer or ornamental tree. Participants are required to fill out a tree order form prior to the distribution day.
The forms are available on-line along with the dates and locations are listed on the Operation ReLeaf website .