Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act advances in US Congress
Iain Hoey
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House passes Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025
The United States House of Representatives passed the Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025 on May 13 by unanimous consent.
The legislation, also known as H.R. 2492, would allow the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to approve the removal of hazard trees and vegetation around electrical transmission corridors on public lands without requiring a corresponding timber sale.
This proposed change aims to streamline vegetation management near electric infrastructure to reduce the risk of wildfires.
Senate to consider related legislation
The House bill now advances to the Senate, where a separate but related version, S. 349, was introduced in January.
While H.R. 2492 covers both the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, the Senate version focuses solely on Forest Service lands.
The Senate Committee on Agriculture has not yet reviewed the bill.
Industry support from the American Public Power Association
The American Public Power Association (APPA) has expressed support for the Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act.
The group said the measure aligns with its Resolution 25-09, titled In Support of Increased Federal Efforts to Address the Growing Threats of Wildfires, which was adopted at the 2025 Legislative Rally in Washington, DC.
The resolution calls on federal land management agencies to speed up the approval process for hazard tree removal and routine vegetation management to mitigate wildfire risks.
Key provisions of the legislation
According to the bill, the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior may grant permission under existing special use permits or easements for the cutting and removal of trees and other vegetation around power lines on National Forest System and Bureau of Land Management lands.
This is conditional on the activity being consistent with existing land and resource management plans and environmental regulations.
The legislation also specifies that if an electrical utility sells any removed material, proceeds must be remitted to the respective Secretary after accounting for transport costs.
However, there is no requirement for any removed material to be sold.
Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act: Summary
The US House has passed the Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025 by unanimous consent.
The act enables the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to allow tree removal around electrical lines without a timber sale.
It applies to both National Forest System lands and BLM-managed lands.
The Senate will now consider a related version of the bill, which focuses only on Forest Service lands.
The American Public Power Association supports the bill as consistent with its wildfire risk reduction policy.
The bill outlines requirements for compliance with environmental law and management plans.
Utilities may sell removed materials but must return proceeds, minus transport costs, to the federal agency.
There is no requirement for materials to be sold.
The legislation is designed to accelerate vegetation management to improve fire safety near electric infrastructure.
