The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity is partnering with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to support state energy security officials through targeted technical assistance, trainings, and workshops. This initiative is designed to strengthen state-level capacity for wildfire planning and response, reduce associated risks and costs, and improve coordination with land management partners. Efforts will prioritize states facing evolving wildfire threats, guided by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's wildfire mapping and current state wildfire planning activities.
Events and Workshops
Customized workshops or trainings are available to be hosted across United States in regions with emerging wildfire risk. State agencies are encouraged to reach out to us to explore these opportunities to bring together state energy officials, land managers, utilities, technology providers, government representatives and local partners. Formats and content are shaped in collaboration with participating states.
Wildfire Workshop for the Piedmont Region
August 12–13, 2026 IN charlottesville, VA
PNNL hosted a two day “Wildfire Workshop for the Piedmont States,” to address emerging wildfire risk in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and neighboring Appalachian and Mid Atlantic regions. The event convened state energy planners, regulators, emergency responders, utilities, land managers, and researchers. Sessions highlighted wildfire data and trends in the Piedmont, interactions between wildfire and energy systems, and lessons learned from Western states. Participants also examined the impacts of Hurricane Helene on regional wildfire risk and explored best practices and technology solutions for reducing utility wildfire hazards.
Check out the event photos below!
Meeting on Wildfire Mitigation Planning and Response Strategies
The workshop emphasized peer learning, lively discussion, and cross sector collaboration to strengthen preparedness and resilience. Attendees shared insights on emerging wildfire risks to electricity systems, engaged in dialogue on mitigation planning and response strategies, and explored cost reduction approaches for utilities facing growing wildfire challenges. Hosted in partnership with the University of Virginia Environmental Institute and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity and Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, the event helped cultivate enduring pathways for regional coordination and continued knowledge exchange across states and industry stakeholders.
North Central Regional Wildfire Workshop for State Energy Security Planning
PNNL, in partnership with DOE’s Office of Electricity and Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, hosted a one-day workshop focused on state energy planning for emerging wildfire risk across Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. The workshop was part of a three-day event focused on Regional Risk Assessment for the North Central Region.
Check out the event photos below!
Convening on Wildfire Resilience
The wildfire workshop in Madison, WI brought together commissioners, state energy officials, land managers, utilities, national leaders, and technology experts to examine emerging wildfire risks to energy systems and their financial, operational, and regional impacts. Participants engaged in discussions that covered local and regional wildfire data and how they are changing, utilities’ wildfire mitigation planning, technology solutions and case studies, experiences from the West, among other topics. The event highlighted that wildfire risk is an important focus for proactive collaboration. The event featured expert panel presentations, lively discussions, graphical notetaking, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities.