DP&L to turn substations into eco-friendly prairies

Utility plans natural landscaping for 70 acres

Reade Faulkner, real estate supervisor for Dayton Power and Light, walks the three-acre DP&L property that will be turned into a native Ohio prairie meadow in the 2000 block of old Central Avenue in Miamisburg. DP&L will work over the next five years to convert up to 1,000 acres of its own property into meadows. Staff photo by Teesha McClam

Teesha McClam Reade Faulkner, real estate supervisor for Dayton Power and Light, walks the three-acre DP&L property that will be turned into a native Ohio prairie meadow in the 2000 block of old Central Avenue in Miamisburg. DP&L will work over the next five years to convert up to 1,000 acres of its own property into meadows. Staff photo by Teesha McClam

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Experts: Proposed meadows will absorb greenhouse gases

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By Steve Bennish, Staff Writer Updated 11:31 PM Tuesday, April 21, 2009

An unremarkable three-acre grass lot here in the 2000 block of old Central Avenue will become part of a Dayton Power & Light initiative to create meadows not seen in some parts of Ohio for a century or longer.

The utility, during the next five years, will work to convert as many as 1,000 of its acres to native plant meadows — a prairie-like landscape that will require less maintenance and serve as a harbor for unusual plants, butterflies and other creatures.

DP&L’s announcement, which corresponds with Earth Day, today, April 22, said the utility will begin this year with 70 acres in seven counties, some near substations. Planting begins this fall. The 3- to 6-foot-tall meadow grasses mature in about three years.

Reade Faulkner, real estate supervisor for DP&L, said the move will dramatically reduce gasoline consumption, needed to mow the turf. A prairie can be mowed once every two to four years, compared to mowing turf grass every week.

The tall-grass prairies of Ohio pioneer days numbered more than 300 and in some locations stretched into several counties. In time, most fell to the plow.

Tens of thousands of acres have since been restored or recreated, said John Blakeman, the biologist working with DP&L.

Officials with the utility said the meadows will appear first in Montgomery, Greene, Darke, Logan, Highland, Clinton and Miami counties, and DP&L is working with local park districts and Meadow Environments of Huron to select plants to be used.

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