Energy systems in the U.S. are facing greater risks from natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. These events can damage power lines, substations, and other critical infrastructure, leading to widespread outages and disruptions to essential services. Traditionally, utilities have relied on “gray infrastructure” solutions—like stronger poles or underground cables—to reduce these risks. While effective, these approaches can be expensive and don’t always provide broader environmental or community benefits.

Nature-based solutions (NbS) offer a promising alternative. These include restoring wetlands, planting vegetation buffers, or managing watersheds to help protect energy infrastructure from hazards. NbS can reduce the impacts of extreme weather, support ecosystems, and improve local conditions, but they are not yet widely used in energy planning—especially in rural or inland areas.

This work introduces a framework that helps utilities and planners evaluate how NbS can improve energy resilience. It connects technical infrastructure needs with ecological and social benefits. We also highlight areas for future research, such as measuring NbS performance, identifying key partners, and filling data gaps. The goal is to make NbS a practical, evidence-based part of energy security planning.