33 | Floyd Hardin, Salt River Project Artwork

The Utility Vegetation Management Podcast

Utility Vegetation Management (UVM) is a rapidly growing multi-billion dollar a year industry employing tens of thousands of people. UVM is the largest operational expense in most electric utilities and frequently the largest driver of system reliability and outage management. In recent years, climate change, wildfires, storms and Public Safety Power Shutoffs have brought the industry into mainstream news. Several groups including government, regulators, utilities, contractors, industry and the public are now active stakeholders and contribute to the public debate. Despite high levels of concern and interest in the subject matter, communications on the topic have been restricted to traditional media outlets. The UVM Podcast is the first of its kind. It aims to directly insert itself in the public conversation as a 21st Century medium to discuss and address the challenges that face us all. The podcast is hosted by Stephen Cieslewicz, an internationally recognized expert in UVM, and Nick Ferguson, a Tech Sector leader specializing in Utility Vegetation Management.

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The Utility Vegetation Management Podcast

33 | Floyd Hardin, Salt River Project

July 02, 2025 • Steve Cieslewicz and Nick Ferguson

In this episode of The Utility Vegetation Management Podcast, hosts Nick Ferguson and Stephen Cieslewicz sit down with Floyd Hardin of Salt River Project (SRP) to explore how one of the nation’s largest public power utilities is navigating wildfire risk in the unique landscapes of the desert Southwest.

Floyd shares how SRP is learning from the wildfire experiences of states like California and Oregon, adapting those lessons to its own operations. The conversation dives into the challenges of managing invasive grass species across desert grasslands, and the balance between fuels reduction and fuels removal in high-risk areas.

The discussion also highlights the respectful and collaborative work SRP does on tribal lands, including cultural and regulatory considerations. Floyd explains SRP’s “no-reclose” policy during fire season—a bold step in wildfire mitigation—and discusses its practical implications for system reliability and public safety.

Listeners will also hear about SRP’s innovative defensible space program around distribution poles, its measurable impact on reducing outages and ignition risks, and what the future holds for wildfire prevention efforts.

Key Topics Covered:

Lessons learned from Western wildfires
Wildfire risk in desert ecosystems
Managing invasive species as fuel sources
SRP’s approach to fuels reduction vs. removal
Collaborating with tribal nations
Implementing a no-reclose policy
Defensible space for distribution poles
Future innovations in vegetation management

Whether you’re in a utility, land management, or policy role, this episode offers actionable insights into proactive wildfire mitigation in diverse environments.

A huge thank you to the sponsor of this season and episode, Clear Path Utility Solutions.