Cloudy blue sky with mountains in the background of men installing a powerline with two white pick-up trucks along with a utility truck installing a distribution power line with another Christmas tree power line to the right.

Electric Power

The BLM administers nearly 17,000 ROWs for electric transmission and distribution lines across public lands in the 11 Western states and Alaska.

From small, local lines to long-distance, multi-state corridors that accommodate high-voltage transmission lines, ROWs on BLM-managed public lands are crucial to a reliable, resilient infrastructure. 

In 2018 Congress amended the Federal Land Management Policy Act (FLPMA) to add specific requirements to reduce the risk of fire from and to power lines. Executive Order 13855 and Secretary's Order 3372 also guide the BLM's administration of power line ROWs.