State Utility Protecting Threatened Plant

There are fewer that 100 populations of Georgia Asters (Symphyotrichum georgianum) in the world.

EnergyUnited, the third-largest provider of residential electricity in North Carolina is out to protect a stand of Georgia Asters (Symphyotrichum georgianum), a threatened herbaceous perennial found on the company's right-of-way. The Georgia Aster grows in only 20 locations in the state and in only three other states, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. Its purple blooms appear from October to mid-November.

"Good stewardship of natural resources and our environment is a high priority at EnergyUnited," said Jimmy Brown, director of the company's right-of-way maintenance.