Title: Stakeholder Engagement in a Post Northeast Blackout Environment

Summary: Substantial investment in clearing rights-of-way needs to be balanced with investments in environmental programs and stakeholder engagement. Since 2006, electric utility companies must manage bulk transmission rights-of-way to be in compliance with NERC Standard FAC-003. Many companies respond to the requirements of FAC-003 by investing substantially in clearing incompatible vegetation from rights-of-way. A case study describes a project approach that seeks community input into right-of-way management. To address community concerns, compatible native species are planted on the right-of-way. The result is compliance with FAC-003 and a community that is satisfied with the service it is receiving from its electric utility.

Alexander C. Brown, BSc. Forestry, PECO Energy, Vegetation Management, Philadelphia, PA, United States

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