Environmental Activities in Close Cooperation with Local Communities

Our concept of environmental communications is to disclose information about the status of our efforts toward solving environmental problems and to take in the opinions and evaluations received from customers for the improvement toward next step while considering environmental activities and implementing such activities together with the local residents. Tohoku EPCo and the Tohoku EPCo Group are actively pursuing in union the environmental preservation activities with the local residents.

Especially in Environmental Awareness Month which is June, many activities such as tree planting and afforestation, resources recycling, environmental lectures, and delivery energy lectures by our personnel are organized, and in the Environmental Awareness Month in FY2006, a total of about 270 activities and programs were implemented in our offices and establishments and about 18,000 local residents participated in those activities.

Head Office

Holding of “ECO Life Talk 2006”

In June 2006, Tohoku EPCo held “ECO Life Talk--Wonderful Discovery, That is the Earth” at its Head Office.

This event was held with an aim to think about environmental issues such as global warming and recycling and act together with local residents who participated in the event. About 220 people participated in the event.

On the day of the event, Ms. Waka Okoshi of Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University , who participated in the 42nd Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (summer party) as the first Japanese mother, held a talk show titled “Think about Global Warming--Message from Antarctica.” Mr. Tomo Yamaguchi, a percussionist, held an attraction of “junk percussion instrument performance.”

During the talk show, Ms. Okoshi talked about the environment based on her experience and introduced her life in Antarctica. As for the attraction, Mr. Yamaguchi played junk percussion instruments that were made by himself by using styrene foam, discarded materials, etc. All of the participants made peckers (shakers) by using Plastic bottles, and played in concert. Environmental communication activities were conducted in a united manner during the event.

Aomori Branch Office

Cleaning of Traffic Lights (Goshogawara Customer Services Office)

Goshogawara Customer Services Office cleaned traffic lights at ten places and removed notices illegally posted on poles in the city of Goshogawara in time for the spring traffic safety campaign and the school entrance season. The office used bucket trucks and carefully cleaned traffic lights.

Iwate Branch Office

Activities to Release Fry into the Kasshigawa River and Environment Study Meeting (Kamaishi Customer Services Office)

In cooperation with the environment section of Kamaishi municipal government, Kamaishi Customer Services Office released 7,000 masu trout fry into the Kasshigawa River with second-grade children of Kamaishi Elementary School, and also held an “environment study meeting” to learn about fish living in the Kasshigawa River. The companies of Tohoku EPCo Group also cleaned the riverbed.

Akita Branch Office

Joint Cleanup Activities by Tohoku EPCo Group (Odate Customer Services Office)

Together with the relevant companies in Tohoku EPCo Group, Odate Customer Services Office conducts cleanup activities at Keijo Park in Odate every year. With a wish to allow visitors to enjoy the viewing of the cherry blossoms in a clean park, the office has conducted such cleanup activities for seven years in a row. Empty cans, sticks and twigs, etc. which are conspicuous after the thawing of snow, are gathered, and the season of the park changes to spring.

Miyagi Branch Office

“Flower Island Nonoshima” Planting Activities (Shiogama Customer Services Office)

Together with elementary and junior high school students, Shiogama Customer Services Office planted ornamental kales and pansies at a elementary and junior high school in Nonoshima, an isolated island of Shiogama City, and also planted lavender at a flower garden called “Yui Garden” in the island.

As part of the activities to color the island with flowers, the office encouraged children to think about the importance of environmental protection through their experience in planting this year again in cooperation with NPOs.

Yamagata Branch Office

Mogami River Swan Park Clean Operation (Sakata Engineering Center and Sakata Customer Services Office)

Sakata Engineering Center and Sakata Customer Services Office cleaned the place where swans come flying in cooperation with a local “club of those who love swans,” the companies of Tohoku EPCo Group, and retirees of Tohoku EPCo. It was the 15th cleaning.

Fukushima Branch Office

Nature Experience School for Parent and Child (Fukushima Branch Office)

Fukushima Branch Office held the “nature experience school for parent and child” at the citizens' forest. Forty parents and children publicly invited learned the importance of the protection of natural environment through walking in the nature with a guide of the forest, cleaning in the forest, unloading of charcoal from stoves, etc.

Niigata Branch Office

Volunteer Activities to Clean Environment in Oshiroyama (Murakami Customer Services Office)

Together with local resident, Murakami Customer Services Office conducts cleanup activities at Gagyuzan (nicknamed Oshiroyama), which is a place of recreation and relaxation for the citizens. This cleaning activity has been conducted in August every year for more than 20 years. The stone walls where weeds are removed can be clearly seen from the urban area in Murakami, contributing to improvement in the image of the city for sightseeing.