NRDC Joins Coalition Letter in Support of Wildfire Bill
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – NRDC joined a coalition of public interest groups on a letter to Governor Newsom and state leadership supporting SB 492, the bill that is the result of end of session negotiations on wildfire funding and liability. The letter urges decisonmakers to take further action to bring down electricity costs and enact comprehensive reforms to address California’s strict liability standard.
NRDC is joined on the letter by The Utility Reform Network (TURN), Climate Action Campaign, and NextGen California who state:
“We write in support of SB 492. We also continue to urge action on wildfire reforms now that will provide meaningful relief for electricity customers and provide durable support for wildfire prevention. While we stand in support of the measures in SB 492, the state of California cannot stop here. Comprehensive reforms are urgently needed to attain rate relief, including true wildfire liability reform and reduction in harm to communities through systemic investments in prevention.”
The following is a statement from Victoria Rome, California government affairs director at NRDC:
“SB 492 does not address the untenable reality that the current system for covering wildfire costs is driving electricity prices higher with no end in sight. California cannot escape the cycle of climate change fueling more destructive fires without full-scale, electrification of our homes, vehicles, and businesses – which requires affordable electricity rates that reflect the actual cost of accessing California’s abundant clean energy resources. Every day without action to reform our current system leaves us all at greater risk.”
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).