Scaling the Blueprint: NGA Roundtable Highlights The Ray’s Leadership in ROW Innovation
The Ray recently joined the National Governors Association (NGA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for a high-level roundtable on a critical frontier for American infrastructure: the use of existing transportation rights-of-way (ROW) for energy transmission and fiber-optic networks.
The convening brought together Governors’ infrastructure coordinators, State DOT officials, and energy leaders to discuss how to move from "idle land" to a multi-use infrastructure network that powers the future.
Key Takeaways
Co-location as a Speed Multiplier: The roundtable emphasized that co-locating transmission and broadband within existing highway and rail corridors can drastically reduce environmental impacts and bypass the traditional "greenfield" permitting hurdles that often stall critical energy projects.
The Power of Geospatial Solutions: Building on The Ray’s pioneering work, participants emphasized the need for advanced geospatial solutions to support suitability mapping. These tools allow states to identify "optimal paths" for infrastructure, turning complex planning into actionable data.
Policy Evolution: Discussions centered on removing outdated state-level prohibitions—citing Minnesota’s 2024 legislative victory as a prime example of how states can unlock their land for utility siting.
ROW as a Revenue Asset: A recurring theme was the shift in mindset among State DOTs—from viewing roadside land as a maintenance burden to recognizing it as a long-term revenue-generating asset for the state.
“The conversation has shifted. We are no longer focusing solely on roadways; we are addressing the entire infrastructure ecosystem. By leveraging the land we already own, we can build a cleaner, more resilient grid at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional approaches.”
