GREENWICH, Conn.—Recent storms that left millions without electricity have people here questioning: If a tree falls in Connecticut, will the power stay on?

The lengthy outages after Tropical Storm Irene and a freak October snowstorm suggest the answer is a resounding no. In a state known for its forest-like feel and foliage fanatics, the power failures split Connecticut into two camps: the tree lovers versus the tree cutters.

Utility companies and state officials blame 90% of the epic power outages on the state's dense woods. Some power companies urge the arborcide of at least 300,000 trees, while Gov. Dannel Malloy calls Connecticut's longtime "reverence of trees completely nonsensical."

Enter tree lover Peter L. Malkin, a real-estate heavyweight perhaps best known for his lengthy battle with Leona Helmsley over control of the Empire State Building. He says power companies can't see the forest for the trees.

"They're using the trees as a scapegoat," says Mr. Malkin, president of Greenwich Tree Conservancy. "The real fix to this problem is putting the power lines underground."