Manager’s Message – September 2025

Legislation Could Support Wildfire Mitigation

At Lane Electric Cooperative, we work year-round to mitigate the risk of wildfire and keep our members, employees, and communities safe. As we welcome fall, we find ourselves nearing the end of another long and challenging wildfire season in Oregon.

The U.S. Senate may soon consider the Fix Our Forests Act (S. 1462), which establishes requirements for managing federal forests. This includes requirements for reducing wildfire threats, expediting the review of forest management projects, and implementing forest management projects and other activities. A version of this legislation has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support.

The bill makes key changes to how federal forests are managed, including many that enhance wildfire mitigation efforts. Specifically, it would:

• Expand electric utility authority to remove hazard trees from within 10 feet to 150 feet of electric power lines.
• Establish expedited timelines for federal agency review and approval of vegetation management plans.
• Streamline timber sale and removal processes to reduce fuel loads near electrical lines.

We ask that our elected officials in Washington, D.C., step up to support Lane Electric and other utilities by passing this legislation and providing us with the tools to effectively manage vegetation near power lines. We join with other Oregon cooperatives to elevate our voice through the Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

To learn about how you can lend your voice in support, visit the Voices for Cooperative Power website.

General Manager
Scott Coe