PSNC Energy Receives Wildlife Habitat Recognition
OutdoorHub 07.20.12
Most people who go to work don’t expect to see red fox, deer, hummingbirds, wood ducks, and wild turkeys while on the job. At PSNC Energy in Gastonia, wildlife viewings are all just part of a day’s work.
The PSNC Energy property is located on Gaston Road in Gastonia and has 8 acres and a pond for wildlife to enjoy. As you pass the property you will see a beautiful butterfly garden that was established with the help of employees, Boy Scout Troop 22, and volunteers from the local wildlife chapter, Gaston County Piedmont Area Wildlife Stewards or PAWS.
“Our employees really enjoyed the opportunity to create a wildlife habitat on our Gastonia campus, but this is not our first W.A.I.T. project,” said PSNC Energy President and Chief Operating Officer Rusty Harris. “In the last two years, PSNC Energy employees have planted a butterfly garden at our Iredell Operations Center and installed bluebird houses as well as planted gardens at our company locations in Durham and Apex.”
W.A.I.T. (Wildlife and Industry Together) is a program designed to foster public awareness and participation in conservation, wildlife restoration and wildlife protection activities. Companies participating in W.A.I.T. agree to convert a portion of their property into wildlife habitat, appoint an employee committee to coordinate the W.A.I.T. plan for the site and develop educational opportunities for employees and the local community.
PAWS, a local chapter of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, has also helped to enhance the property for wildlife by placing boxes for wood ducks and other assorted birds as well as feeders. The butterfly garden was planted with over a hundred perennial shrubs and flowers including foxglove, lavender, and catchfly. Many species of birds enjoy the pond where turtles, snakes, fish and salamanders thrive.
“PAWS congratulates PSNC Energy on receiving the W.A.I.T. recognition.” said Larry Capps, PAWS vice president. “We are sure this is only the beginning of projects that PSNC Energy has plans for in future at Gaston Road as well as other properties in North Carolina.” PAWS is ready to assist other industries in the Gaston County area in becoming a part of the certified W.A.I.T. program.
PSNC Energy is the 4th certified W.A.I.T. site in Gaston County joining the Crowders Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, Valley Protiens, and Duke Energy’s Riverbend Steam Station.
“These sites serve as model habitats that will benefit wildlife, air, and water for the entire community and in addition, support our organization’s habitat goal to have every available acre in the state best managed for wildlife,” said Tim Gestwicki, North Carolina Wildlife Federation, Executive Director.
