Expanding Electric Transmission Rights of Way in Federal Forests

House Natural Resources Committee
   Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee
1324 Longworth

02/24/2026 at 10:15AM

On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 10:15 a.m. in room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries will hold an oversight hearing titled “Bureaucratic Delays and the Costs to Ratepayers and Electric Power Systems.”

Hearing memo

Witnesses:

  • Ralph Armstrong, Senior Assistant Business Manager, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1245, Vacaville, CA
  • Jim Anderson, CEO and General Manager, Midstate Electric Cooperative, La Pine, OR (member company of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)
  • Jason Bowling, CEO, Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc., Sierra Vista, AZ (member company of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)
  • Mason Baker, CEO and General Manager, Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems, Salt Lake City, UT (member company of the American Public Power Association)
  • Randy S. Howard, General Manager, Northern California Power Agency, Roseville, CA (member company of the American Public Power Association)
  • Jesse Murray, Senior Vice President of Energy Delivery, NV Energy, Reno, NV
  • Dr. Carolyn Mahan, Professor, Biology and Environmental Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, Altoona, PA; Member, Right-of-Way Stewardship Council [Minority Witness]
  • Christina Hayes, Executive Director, Americans for a Clean Energy Grid, Washington, DC [Minority Witness]

Title II of the “Fix Our Forests” Act strengthens existing expedited authorities for electricity rights-of-ways by allowing hazard tree removal within 150 feet of power lines, rather than the current 10-foot limit. The legislation also requires automatic approval, after 120 days, of vegetation management plans submitted by electric utilities, while section 204 establishes a new categorical exclusion for the approval of vegetation management plans and routine activities carried out consistent with such plans. Additionally, FOFA authorizes USFS to approve hazard tree removal for maintenance purposes near power lines without requiring a separate timber sale.