wildfires – California Climate and Energy Collaborative

PG&E maxes out revolving credit as wildfire liabilities loom

November 18, 2018

“But financial analysts noted that the move could be a precursor to a decision to file for bankruptcy protection, given PG&E’s exposure to as much as $15 billion in wildfire liabilities from last year’s devastating wildfires, and the potential that it will be found at fault for starting the Camp Fire last week. PG&E shares…

Without electricity, some people don’t know to evacuate the Camp Fire [video]

November 12, 2018

Sarina Soor

communication, local, video, wildfires

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“Katie Eastman discovers at least one person was unaware of evacuation orders due to the Camp Fire. Without electricity, communication is not easy for some residents in Magalia, Butte County, California.” Click here to read more from ABC.

‘Disturbance’ occurred at SoCal Edison substation moments before Woolsey Fire started

November 12, 2018

Sarina Soor

california, wildfires

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“The utility company Southern California Edison has told state regulators that there was an outage tied to one of its substations two minutes before the Woolsey Fire is believed to have started in Ventura County. The facility, known as the Chatsworth Substation, is located near the area where the massive blaze is believed to have…

‘Blackout blackmail’ or last resort? PG&E defends Northern California power cut

October 19, 2018

Sarina Soor

liability, PG&E, redflag, wildfires

“The utility defended its actions, however, saying the high winds did damage some of its power lines. “Crews found multiple instances where equipment was potentially damaged during the recent weather event,” said Brandi Merlo, a spokeswoman for Pacific Gas and Electric Co. Merlo couldn’t provide any specific information about the damage. PG&E shut off power…

Utilities cut power to prevent wildfires. But who wins when the lights go out?

October 18, 2018

Sarina Soor

power, utilities, wildfires

No Comments

“With devastating wildfires becoming more frequent in California, power companies have found themselves on the defensive. Their equipment has been singled out as a frequent culprit. Now, to reduce the hazard, they are pulling out a rarely used tool: the blackout. Power for tens of thousands of Northern Californians was cut Sunday as high winds…

California hits PG&E with $5 million in citations for gas leaks

October 18, 2018

Sarina Soor

natural gas leak, utilities, wildfires

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“State officials issued $5 million in citations against Pacific Gas & Electric Co. on Monday for violations resulting in two natural gas leaks in Northern California in 2016 and 2017. The California Public Utilities Commission, which oversees utilities, issued a $4.05 million citation to PG&E stemming from a 2016 incident in Deer Park. The agency…

Firefighters sue California gas company over massive leak

October 18, 2018

Sarina Soor

natural gas leak, utilities, wildfires

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“Firefighters who worked in and around the site of a massive natural gas leak sued the Southern California Gas Co. on Monday, saying the utility knowingly let them be exposed to dangerous levels of toxic chemicals. A blowout in a well at the underground Aliso Canyon storage field about 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of…

Officials: Power lines ignited fatal blaze in California

October 10, 2018

Sarina Soor

power lines, wildfires

No Comments

“California fire officials say sagging PG&E power lines that made contact ignited a blaze last year in California that killed four people and injured a firefighter. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018 that strong winds caused the lines to come into contact and send molten material onto dry…

Credit ratings agency downgrades SDG&E and other California utilities over wildfire concerns

October 5, 2018

Sarina Soor

liability, wildfires

No Comments

“San Diego Gas & Electric received a downgrade this month from one of the nation’s top credit ratings agencies but SDG&E was not alone, as California’s two other investor-owned utilities — Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas & Electric — also got nicked. Moody’s Investors Service cited the same reason in all three cases —…

Utility union benefits from California wildfire legislation

September 6, 2018

Sarina Soor

wildfires

No Comments

“Utility workers would get protections for their jobs, salaries, benefits and pensions as part of a measure allowing California power companies to raise electric bills to cover the cost of lawsuits from last year’s deadly wildfires.” Click here to read more from ABC 10.

Mapping Fire Risk and Planning for Recovery in Sonoma County

September 6, 2018

Sarina Soor

disaster, resilience, wildfires

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“In the State of California, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, CALFIRE, maps Fire Hazard Severity Zones based on fuels, terrain, weather, and other relevant factors. These areas are classified into three zones: Moderate, High, and Very High. While CALFIRE data provide an essential baseline for assessing and mapping fire hazard zones, the…

Enormous wildfires spark scramble to improve fire models

September 6, 2018

Sarina Soor

disaster, wildfires

No Comments

“Researchers have been at a loss to explain a flurry of unusual fire behaviour in California in recent years: wildfires that burn hot throughout the night instead of settling down, as many used to; blazes that race down hillsides faster than before; and fires that torch suburban neighbourhoods once considered safe from such events. And…

Rebuilding better homes for Northern California wildfire survivors

August 31, 2018

Sarina Soor

decarbonization, Title 24, wildfires

No Comments

“There are options for homeowners. Under the first option, homeowners receive a $7,500 incentive to exceed current energy efficiency standards by 20%, to install an electric vehicle charging station (equipment is provided free of charge) and design the roof for additional loads associated with solar panels. If they want to add solar combined with energy…

Opinion: We won’t stop California’s wildfires if we don’t talk about climate change

August 17, 2018

Sarina Soor

climate change, wildfires

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“Four of the five largest conflagrations the state has had to battle have come since 2012 , according to the Los Angeles Times, and that is probably no mere coincidence. Droughts, storms and heat waves have occurred throughout history, of course, and it is hard to attribute any single event to climate change. But scientists…

Gov. Jerry Brown warns California’s climate change efforts hinge on changing wildfire liability law

August 2, 2018

Sarina Soor

liability, wildfires

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“The governor offered a draft proposal to lawmakers last week that would loosen the strict liability that utilities like Pacific Gas & Electric Co. now bear following fires like the deadly blazes that swept through Napa and Sonoma counties last year. PG&E has already made plans for payments of at least $2.5 billion for those…