The tree planting portion of the Tribal Renewable Energy program began in 2003 with the planting of windbreak and shade trees in the community of Allen on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. Since then, TWP has planted hundreds of trees on Pine Ridge in Wanblee, Crossroads, Batesland, Wakpamni Lakes, and Oglala. This program, known as "Energyscape," also included a number of renewable energy workshops at Oglala Lakota College on Pine Ridge to help educate reservation residents about the benefits of tree planting and renewable energy.

The trees planted through this program include Easter Red cedar and Rocky Mountain juniper for windbreaks, and green ash and cottonwood for shade trees. All of these trees are native to the western High Plains and well-adapted to local conditions.

The cedar and juniper are fast-growing trees, their branches forming a living wall to block cold winter wind, snow, and dust. Windbreak trees can reduce wind velocity up to 90% and lower winter heating costs as well.

Cottonwoods and green ash are planted on the south sides of homes to provide shade in the summer. Since these trees lose their leaves each year, they don't block the warm winter sun. Cottonwoods are sacred trees to the Lakota, playing an important role in their annual Sun Dance ceremonies.

For the last three years, trees for this project have been provided by Lakota elder and nurseryman Bernard Cuny. Buying the trees locally helps keep costs down and supports the reservation economy as well.

Through a grant from the US Forest Services National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council, TWP produced in 2006 "Honoring Mother Earth: Planting Windbreak and Shade Trees on Native American Reservations," a comprehensive educational package to help educate reservation communitites in the fundamentals of community forestry, specifically how to plan and carry out windbreak and shade tree planting projects to reduce the impact of harsh environmental conditions and high utility costs. The package included an illustrated handbook, video, and CD with resource materials.