PSEG Employees Celebrate Earth Day With Park Cleanup

PSEG employees on Tuesday celebrated Earth Day by helping reduce Long Island's carbon footprint in Huntington.

Nearly 100 employees spent the day removing weeds, refreshing flower beds, spreading mulch and planting 19 new trees. at Gateway Park in Huntington Station.

“We all know that we need to do something to preserve our environment. This means reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, reducing our waste, recycling more, and preserving the environment that we live in, so that future Long Islanders can enjoy the beautiful scenery we grew up having,” said Paul DiBenedetto, a PSEG Long Island employee and Huntington resident. “Living in the Town of Huntington, I like the idea that I was able to participate in a volunteer event near me where I can drive by and see the beautiful results.”

Later in the day, they distributed free reusable shopping bags and wildflower seeds to shoppers at the King Kullen in Huntington Station, the Stop & Shop in East Northport and the Stop & Shop in Huntington. Another team handed out free LED bulbs at the Huntington YMCA.

Other employees walked down New York Avenue, offering free energy audits to small businesses to help encourage them to install more-efficient lighting to save energy and money.

Then, at 2 p.m., students at Jefferson Primary School enjoyed “The Conservation Caper,” a PSEG Long Island-sponsored play about energy efficiency staged by the National Theater for Children.

“It’s great to see PSEG Long Island come into my Town of Huntington, to clean it up, beautify and make it look good for the residents like me in honor of Earth Week,” said Jimmy Huie, an employee volunteer and Northport resident. “I have been an employee for more than 45 years. I’m very grateful and glad that PSEG Long Island supports me and my community.”

"PSEG Long Island's Arbor Day beautification initiative at the Town's Gateway Gardens mirrors the Town’s ongoing beautification projects and commitment to preserving green space," said Huntington Town Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci. "PSEG Long Island’s tree and flower planting project, along with their LED light bulb and reusable bag giveaways and free energy efficiency evaluations, will enhance our quality of life in Huntington in addition to the environmental benefits!"