| Resource Type | Database |
| Author / Source | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) |
| Publication Date | 2025 (updated regularly) |
| Location | United States |
| Initiative Type | Technology, Program |
| Project Complexity | Intermediate |
| Recommended For | Board, Staff |
Estimated time: 15 minutes
Why This Matters for Rural Electric Co-ops
This Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) database puts more than 400 real utility wildfire mitigation plans (WMPs) in one searchable place, so a co-op can see how peers assess risk, what tactics they use, and what regulators expect, rather than starting from a blank page.
A co-op can search by location, year, and utility type to find comparable plans and borrow structure and specific measures. A newer artificial intelligence research assistant also lets users ask questions across hundreds of plans to surface best practices and gaps. It is a free, public tool, which makes it a low-cost first stop for benchmarking before committing staff or consultant time to a full plan.
Key Takeaways
| › | The database compiles more than 400 publicly available wildfire mitigation plans from 170 utilities across 19 states, spanning 2019 to 2028, searchable by location, year, and utility type. |
| › | A co-op can benchmark its approach against peers and adapt proven tactics rather than build a wildfire mitigation plan from scratch. |
| › | A 2026 AI research assistant lets users query hundreds of plans and get answers with source references, speeding up gap and best-practice analysis. |
| › | Free and public, it is a useful early step for co-ops new to wildfire risk or developing a WMP, whether or not one is required. |
Implementation Considerations
- Regulatory or Governance Considerations: The plans reflect a range of state requirements, so a co-op should treat them as reference models and adapt to its own state's rules rather than copy directly.
- Staffing or Technology Requirements: The database is simple to use for reviewing comparable plans. Turning what it shows into an actual plan is more complicated and may need engineering or consultant support.
- Time-Sensitive Information: The database is federally funded and updated regularly, and the plan set will keep growing. The tool is live and current now, though the pace of future updates could shift with federal funding and program changes.
Notable Examples
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL): Built and maintains the database as part of its Wildfire Risk and Resilience program.
Estimated time: 15 minutes
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