Empowering Communities to Prepare for Wildfire Season, Grants to Local Nonprofits Focused on Wildfire Mitigation Projects

Rhea-AI Summary

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PCG) is investing $2 million in grants to local Fire Safe Councils (FSCs) in California for wildfire prevention projects in 2021. This initiative supports community safety amid increased wildfire risks due to extreme weather conditions. Since 2014, PG&E has allocated $17 million to FSCs, focusing on fire safety improvements such as fuel reduction and emergency access enhancements. The funding will support 32 projects, showcasing PG&E's ongoing commitment to mitigating wildfire hazards and enhancing community preparedness.

Positive

• Investing $2 million in wildfire prevention grants for local Fire Safe Councils.
• Total funding to FSCs since 2014 reaches $17 million.
• Supports 32 planned projects enhancing fire safety and preparedness.

Negative

• One-third of electric lines are in extreme fire-threat areas, indicating high risk.

This wildfire season, mobilizing Californians to protect their homes, businesses, communities, and the environment from wildfire is more important than ever. The work of local California Fire Safe Councils (FSCs) is critical to strengthening the safety and preparedness of local communities during the 2021 wildfire season.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) continues its strong support of local FSCs and non-profit organizations that are focused on reducing the threat of wildfires in its communities, with $2 million in grants for projects scheduled in 2021.

“With our Community Wildfire Safety Program, we focus on reducing wildfire risk by meeting and exceeding state vegetation safety standards, continuing to harden our electric grid with stronger power lines and poles and by integrating new tools and technologies. But we can’t do it all alone. We need to work together and enable each other to prepare for this wildfire season, which is why the work of the local Fire Safe Councils is so essential,” said Peter Kenny, PG&E Interim Vice President of Vegetation Management.

Since 2014, PG&E has provided $17 million in grant funding to support local FSCs in their efforts to improve fire safety in communities. Typical FSC projects include reducing fuel, creating fuel breaks, and improving fire evacuation routes and emergency access roads.

“With funding from PG&E, we’re able to expand our chipper program and offer free community chipper days for residents in Mendocino County, which we’ve found are a great way to empower residents to finish defensible space clearing,” said Scott Cratty, President of the Mendocino County FSC. “This year, the funding also allowed us to receive a matching grant that helps provide defensible space clearing assistance for the handicapped and for seniors whose income qualifies.”

California continues to experience extreme weather, leading to an increase in wildfire risk and a longer wildfire season. One-third of the electric lines that provide PG&E customers with power are now in extreme or elevated fire-threat areas, as identified by the California Public Utilities Commission.

The funding from PG&E will go toward 32 projects that are planned to be completed by November of this year. A list of local Fire Safe Councils and 501(c)(3) organizations receiving PG&E project funding is below:

Local Fire Safe Councils and 501(c)(3) Organizations Receiving PG&E Funding for Projects
Organization	County
Hayward Fire Department	Alameda
Diablo FSC	Alameda and Contra Costa
Forest Ranch FSC	Butte
Butte County FSC	Butte
Calaveras Healthy Impact Product Solutions (CHIPS)	Calaveras
Auburn Lake Trails Fire Safety & Improvement Council (FSIC)	El Dorado
Highway 168 FSC	Fresno
Yosemite/Sequoia Resource Conservation and Development Council (RCDC)	Fresno
Day Lassen Bench FSC	Lassen and Shasta
Yosemite/Sequoia RCDC	Madera
FireSafe Marin	Marin
Mendocino County FSC	Mendocino
FSC of Monterey County	Monterey
Angwin FSC	Napa
Mt. Veeder FSC	Napa
FSC of Nevada County	Nevada
Iowa Hill Community Club	Placer
Feather River Resource Conservation District (RCD)	Plumas
San Luis Obispo County FSC	San Luis Obispo
FireSafe San Mateo County/Woodside Fire Protection District	San Mateo
South Skyline FSC	Santa Clara and Santa Cruz
FireSafe Santa Cruz County	Santa Cruz
Fire Safe Sonoma	Sonoma
COPE NoSoCO (Citizens Organized to Prepare for Emergencies, Northern Sonoma County)	Sonoma
Bennett Ridge FSO	Sonoma
Resource Conservation District of Tehama County	Tehama and some Shasta
Trinity County RCD	Trinity and Humboldt
Highway 108 FSC	Tuolumne
Yuba Watershed Protection & Fire Safe Council	Yuba

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210601005859/en/

FAQ

What is the purpose of PG&E's $2 million grant for FSCs in 2021?

The grant aims to reduce wildfire risks and enhance community preparedness in California.

How much funding has PG&E provided to Fire Safe Councils since 2014?

PG&E has provided a total of $17 million in funding to Fire Safe Councils since 2014.

What are some projects funded by PG&E for wildfire safety?

Projects include fuel reduction, creating fuel breaks, and improving fire evacuation routes.

In what areas are PG&E's electric lines at risk for wildfires?

One-third of PG&E’s electric lines are in extreme or elevated fire-threat areas.

What is PG&E’s commitment to wildfire safety?

PG&E is committed to enhancing community safety through its Community Wildfire Safety Program and financial support for local initiatives.