It only took a few short weeks into the new year for Entergy’s communities, customers and teams to face a brutal challenge at the hands of Mother Nature. A nationwide arctic blast ushered in snow, sleet, ice and freezing temperatures across Entergy’s service territory, yet the power grid remained resilient.

For Entergy’s vegetation management team, there are many useful tools and strategies utilized to properly maintain greenery around power infrastructure. However, one method stands on its own – both in appearance and in efficiency. The aerial saw, which Entergy recently brought back into operation in partnership with Aerial Solutions, Inc., extends 130 feet below a hovering helicopter and includes ten 24-inch blades. With a gentle throttle by the pilot, the suspended circular saw blades can trim a targeted 20-foot path through a clustered Southern tree line along the edge of a towering transmission line.

Ask anyone who lived through the 1970s what they remember about the energy crisis, and you’ll hear some common themes: The oil embargo and skyrocketing fuel prices. Panic over gasoline shortages and long lines at the pump. Energy conservation mandates and growing concerns over America’s dependence on foreign oil.