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Learn MoreThe Right of Way Stewardship Council (ROWSC) is a leader in promoting sustainable resource management principles and practices on North America’s electric transmission and pipeline corridors. The ROWSC is unique, offering utilities the only accreditation program with established standards for responsible right-of-way (ROW) vegetation management.
Through accreditation, utilities realize direct and indirect benefits through a systems approach to integrated vegetation management (IVM) and best management practices (BMPs). In addition to maintaining power system reliability and ROW security, safety, and access, accredited utilities demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, and the communities they serve.
The ROWSC was established in 2013 as a program within Dovetail Partners, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental think tank serving as program administrator. The organizational structure of the ROWSC includes diverse volunteer representatives from non-governmental environmental organizations, academia, the utility vegetation management industry, utilities, government, and the public at large.
Read MoreRenewing the utility industry’s commitment to integrated vegetation management (IVM) and best management practices (BMPs) to maintain power system reliability and improve relations with state and federal agencies, and stakeholder groups.
Accreditation that provides a standard of excellence for environmental stewardship and the opportunity for utility companies to demonstrate their commitment to ensure better and broader understanding of the societal benefits of IVM.
Recognizing excellence in the practice of IVM on the North American electric power grid, ensuring safety, security, access, and regulatory compliance in an environmentally beneficial, cost-effective manner.
The accreditation provides standards of excellence for environmental stewardship and presents the opportunity for companies to demonstrate their commitment to such standards. Third-party recognition ensures an independent, proven process to convey credibility and bring recognition to IVM programs.
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Accredited Utilities
Minneapolis, MN—The Right-of-Way Stewardship Cou
Read MoreMinneapolis, MN—-The Right-of-Way Stewardship Co
Read MoreAt the Trees & Utilities Conference September
Read MoreLiberty Earns Accreditation as a Right-of-Way Stew
Read MoreATCO Earns Accreditation as a Right-of-Way Steward
Read MoreJoin the Right-of-Way Stewardship Council at Trees
Read MoreNew Council Member Brings Research, Data Analysis,
Read MoreFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE21st August 2023Contact: Kati
Read MoreSMUD Earns Re-Accreditation as a Right-of-Way Stew
Read MoreThree New Council Members Bring Utility, Environme
Read MoreFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE23 SEPTEMBER 2022AltaLink Ear
Read MoreThe Right-of-Way Stewardship Council recently reco
Read More(Mpls, MN) The Right-of-Way Stewardship Council (R
Read MoreThree New Council Members Bring Environmental, Uti
Read MorePictured Left to Right: Eric Brown, SMUD; Bob Bell
Read MoreResearch confirms IVM as least costly and most ben
Read MoreRevised final standard developed and approved by t
Read MoreArizona and Vermont Lead the Way Towards Responsib
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Serving 85 percent of Albertans and operating more than 13,000km of transmission lines, AltaLink is Alberta’s largest electricity transmission provider. AltaLink is partnering with its customers to provide innovative solutions to meet the province’s demand for reliable and affordable energy. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, AltaLink is part of a global group of companies delivering energy services to customers worldwide and was accredited as a ROWSC steward in 2015.
Liberty is a diversified energy and water company with more than one million customer connections across four countries, and a global leader in renewable generation. Liberty manages vegetation on more than 1,460 miles of transmission Rights-of-Way in its ROWSC accredited Central Region, which includes Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, and has a geographic footprint for electric transmission estimated at approximately 21,000 acres. Liberty was accredited as a Right-of-Way Steward for its Central Region in 2023.
First accredited as a ROW steward in 2014, Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) delivers reliable, affordable and carbon-free hydropower produced in the Columbia River Basin to communities across the Northwest. BPA operates and maintains about three quarters of the high-voltage transmission lines in its service territory, totaling more than 15,000 miles throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Western Montana, and sections of surrounding states as one of only four regional Federal power marketing agencies within the US Department of energy.
New York Power Authority (NYPA) is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. NYPA seeks to lead the transition to a carbon-free, economically vibrant New York through customer partnerships, innovative energy solutions, and the responsible supply of affordable, clean, and reliable electricity. NYPA has been an ROWSC accredited utility since 2013.
Arizona Public Service (APS) serves more than 1.3 million homes and businesses in 11 of Arizona’s 15 counties, and is a leader in delivering affordable, clean and reliable energy in the Southwest. APS’s service territory stretches across the state, from the border town of Douglas to the vistas of the Grand Canyon, including more than 5,000 miles of transmission line rights-of-way. The company is committed to serving customers with 100% clean power by 2050. With its current energy mix of 50% clean generation, APS already serves customers with one of the country’s most substantial renewable energy portfolios. APS was accredited as a ROWSC steward in 2013.
Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO) is the nation’s first statewide, transmission only company, currently managing 13,000 acres of transmission line right-of way across Vermont. VELCO strives to give Vermont’s utilities and their customers a reliable high-voltage grid, a strong unified voice on regional energy issues, and continued access to safe, reliable, cost-effective electricity. VELCO was one of the founding utilities to receive ROWSC accreditation in 2013.
As the nation’s sixth-largest, community-owned, not-for-profit electric service provider, Sacramento Municipal Utility District has been providing low-cost, reliable electricity to Sacramento County, California for more than 75 years. SMUD is a recognized industry leader and award winner for its innovative energy efficiency programs, renewable power technologies and for its sustainable solutions for a healthier environment. SMUD received ROWSC accreditation in 2015 for the 460+ miles of transmission lines they operate.
FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems. Its transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions and include more than 13,000 miles of right-of-way transmission corridors. FirstEnergy was accredited by the ROWSC as a right-of-way steward in 2021.
ATCO is one of western Canada’s largest natural electricity transmission and distribution facility owners and operators, delivering energy to industrial, commercial, and residential customers across north and east-central Alberta. The company builds, operates, and maintains a safe, reliable system of approximately 11,000 kilometers of transmission lines stretching from Fort Chipewyan in the north to Oyen in the south. ATCO was accredited as a right-of-way steward in 2023.