Understanding ROWE: A New Era of Western Energy Governance and Opportunities for Tribal Engagement
A significant change is underway in how Western electricity markets are governed.
The Regional Organization for Western Energy (ROWE) is a newly formed, independent nonprofit organization being established to govern voluntary Western electricity markets and services, including the Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) and Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM). Its development marks a shift toward a new, independent regional governance structure for electricity markets serving utilities and communities across much of the West.
Western Resource Advocates and ROWE invite Tribal leaders, staff, energy professionals, and other interested Tribal participants to an educational conversation about this emerging organization and what its development means for the West.
As ROWE takes shape, decisions are being made about its governance, stakeholder processes, public participation, and future role in the Western energy system. For Tribal Nations, this creates an important opportunity to understand the changing landscape, consider how regional market decisions may intersect with Tribal energy priorities, and learn where and how Tribal perspectives can be represented.
During this session, we will:
- Explain what ROWE is, why it was created, and what is changing in Western electricity market governance.
- Explore ROWE’s relationship to the WEIM and EDAM and its developing role within the broader Western energy system.
- Walk through ROWE’s governance and decision-making structure, including how stakeholders can participate.
- Discuss why these regional decisions may matter to Tribal Nations, including potential connections to energy development, affordability, reliability, sovereignty, and other Tribal priorities.
- Identify pathways for Tribal participation and engagement as ROWE’s governance and stakeholder processes continue to develop.
- Provide an opportunity for questions and direct discussion with ROWE.
Webinar recording coming soon
This session builds on WRA’s Tribal Engagement in Western Energy Markets & Transmission Workshop Series held in 2025–26 and continues the conversation as Western energy institutions and markets evolve.
Whether your Tribe is already engaged in regional energy issues or is just beginning to learn about Western electricity markets, this session is intended to provide an accessible starting point for understanding what is changing, who will be making decisions, and the pathways available for Tribal Nations to engage in ROWE’s processes.
For questions about this session or WRA’s Tribal Engagement in Western Energy Markets & Transmission Workshop Series, please contact Nadene Hubbard, WRA’s Tribal Engagement Fellow, at nadene.hubbard@westernresources.org.
About the series
Western Resource Advocates (WRA) convenes an invite-only workshop series for Tribes and Tribal-serving partners to build a shared understanding of how Western energy markets and transmission planning are changing—and to support stronger Tribal influence in the policy decisions happening across the West.
Tribes have long advocated for energy sovereignty and sustainable infrastructure. Today, shifts in energy markets and transmission planning present a critical window to ensure Tribal priorities are reflected in systems that have historically excluded them. With key decisions being made now about the future of energy in the region, Tribal voices, knowledge, and leadership are essential to shaping equitable, resilient outcomes. This workshop series offers a space to engage with emerging opportunities, strengthen strategic positioning, and build collective momentum in energy policy and planning.
Workshop one was held in Fall 2025 in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Chandler, Arizona to accommodate diversified participation. Together, they covered the fundamentals of how the Western grid and wholesale markets operate, where decisions are made, and what practical engagement can look like for Tribes. You can read a summary of these workshops here. Workshop two was held in Spring 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada and built on the first two sessions with a deeper dive into current market governance and transmission planning developments in the West affecting Tribes. You can read a summary of workshop two here.
Additional Resources
Wholesale Electricity Markets for Tribes
Glossary
Organizers
Tahlia Bear
Senior Indigenous Peoples Engagement Manager
Nadene Hubbard
Tribal Engagement Fellow
Vijay Satyal, Ph.D.
Deputy Director of Markets and Transmission
Sydney Welter
Regional Markets Policy Advisor
