This Week in the Mercury
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
News / Politics / Green Plant A Tree, Get A Treebate
Posted by Matt Davis on Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Portlanders can get a rebate on their utility bills to plant a tree, as of this morning. And a gentleman named Bryan showed up with to council what looked like a violin case to testify about it. "You showed up in Chicago with one of those, and we'd be nervous," said City Commissioner Randy Leonard. But it turned out, Bryan just wanted to sing a song about the trees:
Wild.
"A single mature tree with a 30 foot crown can intercept up to 700 gallons of water annually," said City Commissioner Dan Saltzman, introducing the resolution. "The program will provide a small incentive for Portlanders to plant trees in their yards," he continued. "This is an emergency ordinance because the best time to plant trees is in the fall, winter, and early spring."
Here's how it works:
1.Buy a tree
2.Plant it
3.Submit a treebate application form with a proof of purchase to the city.
4.Receive up to $50, as a utility bill credit.
The city is hoping to manage 10-15 million gallons of stormwater a year, with the program, to prevent sewer backups. And there's a limit of ten trees per residence, before you get carried away.
"Our tag line is plant a tree, increase livability," said Jennifer Karps, who'll be running the program at the city.
"When I bought my house I saw it had a big leaf maple, and shortly after we closed, it collapsed on my house," said City Commissioner Nick Fish. "Shortly afterward I got an $800 bill from the city to chop it up into firewood. I'd been thinking about replacing that tree, and now I have a financial incentive."
"This is a win win win for everyone," said Saltzman.
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What, so he can chop it down after it falls on his house again?
Right? I mean, I like urban ecology as much as the next guy, but a) that's a terrible story to underline the point and b) how does this not lead to clogged storm drains?
Great idea. Nice ukulele too.
Win win win? Someone watches the Office.
Too bad I planted my trees last year.
I was hoping he'd say "this is a win win win win win win win win win" for all of us. It's got a better rhythm.
The only thing a broad-leaf maple is good for is clogging the sewer system and drains. They should never be planted anywhere such systems.
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