EWAC Mission Statement:
The Energy and Wildlife Action Coalition (EWAC) is dedicated to assisting members in the management of natural resources issues associated with the development, generation, transmission, or sale of electricity. EWAC’s primary mission is to promote public policies that are based on sound science, protective of wildlife and natural resources, practical, and efficient.
What we do:
- Through collaboration, EWAC’s members share industry experiences and practices that span individual companies, states, and regions; develop common approaches to species and habitat conservation; examine federal and state conservation policies and provide industry perspectives to regulators and lawmakers to find practical and effective approaches to conservation.
- EWAC members share their collective expertise to analyze complex and technical environmental regulations to meet customers’ expectations for reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy. Sharing membership resources and expertise allows EWAC members to maximize these efforts cost-effectively.
- EWAC’s member companies and their businesses highlight the intersection between the need for safe, reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy, and the protection of our natural resources. Member companies are decreasing use of fossil fuels and increasing renewable energy while implementing sustainable business practices that integrate environmental, social, and economic objectives and concerns.
- EWAC’s compliance and conservation efforts to protect our nation’s wildlife and natural resources further the sustainability missions of its member companies.
- EWAC members strive to conserve the nation’s natural resources while also meeting customers’ energy needs.
Organization Structure:
EWAC consists of three technical committees, a policy committee, and a steering committee.
The three technical committees—ESA, MBTA, and BGEPA—assist members in achieving EWAC’s mission, and provide forums for collaboration on the regulatory, technical, and policy issues that arise under each committee’s respective statute. Committee members work together, evaluating and responding to regulatory developments and understanding how various technological advancements can advance conservation efforts. Examples of committee initiatives include:
- The ESA committee evaluated and shared various proactive conservation efforts taken for pollinator species at member facilities.
- The MBTA committee works to identify practical approaches to maximize conservation of migratory bird species.
- The BGEPA committee advocates for and monitors progress made in developing mitigation options for eagle conservation.
The committees also coordinate on issues affecting wildlife arising under other statutes such as the National Environmental Policy Act and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.
The Policy Committee consists of one representative from each member company, approves the annual budget, and sets the organization’s general policy direction, as recommended by the steering and technical committees. EWAC is a majority-rules organization and therefore specific decisions made by the Policy Committee may not always reflect the positions of every member.
The Steering Committee is comprised of members of the Policy Committee and acts as an advisory group to the Policy Committee.
EWAC Leadership:
Policy Chair – Jenny McIvor, Berkshire Hathaway Energy
Executive Director – John M. Anderson
Legal Representation – Nossaman, LLP