More than 70 volunteers from Black Hills Energy and the community gathered recently in Dubuque, Iowa, to plant 41 new trees.

The tree-planting project is through a partnership between the Black Hills Energy Power of Trees program and the nonprofit Trees Forever. Black Hills Energy has partnered with Trees Forever since 1992, planting more than 81,641 seedlings. The 41 new trees benefit the community in many ways, including improving energy efficiency by shading the hot summer sun and blocking cold winter winds.

Two Black Hills Energy employees – storekeeper Paula Welu and Nicole Breitbach, community affairs manager – joined with their families to plant Dubuque’s new trees.

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