TREES Act of 2025

Grants for residential tree planting

This bill would create a Department of Energy grant program to pay for tree planting that lowers residential energy use. The program would have to start within 90 days and would be authorized $50,000,000 each year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, subject to congressional appropriations. Grants could cover up to 90% of eligible project costs, including planning, nurseries, tree purchases, planting, training, and up to 3 years of maintenance and monitoring. States, local governments, Indian Tribes, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and retail power providers could apply and would have to estimate expected energy savings, list costs and other funding, show community engagement, and name suitable tree species. The Secretary would prioritize projects that help households with high energy burden or low tree canopy, serve neighborhoods with many seniors or children or below-regional-median income, engage the community, hire local residents, consult the Forest Service, and seek to plant at least 300,000 trees per year where practical.