With the expectation of planned PG&E power shutoffs continuing “for years,” Peninsula Clean Energy on Monday announced a commitment of $10 million over three years to fund clean backup power for its medically vulnerable residents and for essential community services during shutoff events.
The Peninsula Clean Energy Board of Directors voted to commit the investment as an early response to a problem that has impacted nearly 60,000 of the 290,000 homes, businesses and community facilities using its electricity, including vulnerable residents who rely on electricity to power life-saving devices such as ventilators.
“In just two weeks, PG&E has already turned the lights out on portions of San Mateo County three times,” said Jan Pepper, CEO of Peninsula Clean Energy. “The planned outages by PG&E are expected to continue for years. We are acting now to develop emergency power solutions for those customers who are most at risk.”
The $10 million investment will be used to “develop programs to support the installation of battery backup systems powered by renewable energy on eligible homes and community facilities with greatest need,” according to Peninsula Clean Energy.
The effort is expected to be supplemented by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recently announced statewide funding for emergency power backup systems.
