Verizon Launches Tree-Planting Program, Adds Hybrids to Fleet

Verizon has launched a business tree-planting program to encourage large-business customers to sign up for paper-free billing. It’s also adding 100 energy-efficient hybrid-engine sedans to its fleet of service vehicles.

Beginning on Earth Day, April 22, Verizon Business will plant a tree for every large-business customer that registers to pay its bills online. The company says monthly billing statements for these customers are often hundreds of pages long.

Verizon says it processed about 70 million consumer bills online in 2006.

Following its announcement last month of a pilot project to deploy 13 gasoline- and electric-powered service vans, Verizon is now ordering 100 hybrid-engine sedans for use in five states. In addition, in New Jersey and Texas, Verizon is trialing the use of 20 percent bio-diesel fuel to power service vehicles. Also in those two states, Verizon will use environmentally friendly lubricants made from vegetable oils as part of the process to cut sections of fiber-optic cable where the company is installing and maintaining its digital all-fiber-optic FiOS services.