Partnership aims to improve wildfire mitigation, streamline infrastructure maintenance, and strengthen coordination for rural electric service reliability
Santa Fe, N.M., May 29, 2026 — The USDA Forest Service and the New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association, in coordination with New Mexico's rural electric cooperatives, have developed a new statewide framework designed to improve consistency, coordination, and efficiency for powerline utility special use permits across National Forest System lands in New Mexico.
The initiative comes at a critical time as rural communities, electric cooperatives, and federal land managers face increasing wildfire risks, aging infrastructure challenges, and growing demands for reliable electric and fiber services across forested regions of the state.
The collaborative guidance document aligns with Executive Order 14154 (Unleashing American Energy) through the establishment of a statewide approach for administering utility permits, vegetation management planning, and infrastructure maintenance activities on lands managed by the five national forests in New Mexico. The framework will improve consistency, reduce delays, and support proactive maintenance that protects both critical infrastructure and the forests themselves.
Key goals of the collaboration include:
Streamlining environmental review processes to reduce delays and improve efficiency
Supporting proactive vegetation management and wildfire mitigation efforts
Improving consistency in permit administration across forest boundaries
Enhancing coordination between Forest Service personnel and utility operators
Strengthening reliability of electric and broadband infrastructure serving rural New Mexico communities
The guidance will support both existing and future utility special use permits and will be used in coordination with vegetation management plans and operating plans associated with utility corridors on National Forest System lands.
Protecting forests and maintaining reliable infrastructure are shared responsibilities. By working together across boundaries and jurisdictions, the organizations aim to better support public safety, wildfire resilience, and reliable service for the communities that depend on these systems every day.
The guidance is expected to be reviewed and updated annually to reflect evolving operational needs, regulatory considerations, and leadership priorities.
