Dominion Energy begins cutting down trees on Sullivan’s Island

SULLIVAN’S ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD)— On Tuesday, dozens of palm trees were slated for removal on Sullivan’s Island as crews work to clear the area around powerlines.

Residents are working to save 523 trees that are set to be removed across the island over the next few months.  Many residents have taken their concerns to the council. One resident told News 2 that the trees aren’t only crucial to the island’s look but play an essential role in the environment. 

“Yeah, it’s personal to me because it’s a public safety issue, you know, for us, so we need to make sure that we’re safe from storm surge and hurricanes and everyday flooding, and so we want to make sure that we have as many healthy trees as we can to be able to absorb that stormwater because those trees are nature’s best stormwater pumps,” said Karen Byko, the president of Sullivans Island for all.

Officials from Dominion Energy said they understand the concerns but feel this is the best option to keep residents safe by releasing a statement.

“While we respect and appreciate the natural beauty of the landscape surrounding the communities in which we live and work, safety and reliability remain our top priorities.
Trees and tree limbs remain the No.1 reason for power outages across our system. Routine safeguarding of overhead facilities remains critical to helping ensure a safe, resilient, and reliable electric system and keeping the lights on for all our customers.”

News 2 reached out to Sullivan’s Island officials, but they have not yet commented on the project.