SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
As part of its commitment to public safety, the environment and serving
the community, PG&E Corporation today made a $250,000 shareholder-funded
commitment to the People for a Clean and Healthy Bay Coalition. With
this contribution, PG&E joins a growing list of local leaders—including
the Bay Area Council, Save the Bay, The Silicon Valley Leadership Group,
San Mateo County Economic Development Association, The Trust for Public
Land, The Nature Conservancy and Audubon California—in support of
environmental restoration, pollution reduction and critical flood
protection around the San Francisco Bay.
“Absolutely nothing is more important to us than keeping the public
safe. Joining efforts like this will protect our communities and enable
PG&E to continue to provide the reliable service our customers count on
to power their lives,” said PG&E Corporation Chairman and CEO Tony
Earley.
If approved by voters in June, “Yes on Measure AA for a Clean and
Healthy Bay” would raise $500 million over 20 years to fund critical
conservation and flood protection projects, including the restoration of
15,000 acres of wetlands and creation of 25 miles of new Bay trails.
Co-Chaired by Senator Dianne Feinstein, the campaign has received
endorsement from local elected officials, and business, environmental,
labor, philanthropic and civic leaders.
“Our wetlands are integral to our way of life in the Bay Area. If we
want to keep this a desirable place to live and work, we need to
eliminate the trash and pollution that has built up from years of
neglect and restore the natural environment. It will not only enhance
the Bay, but also help protect us from the risks associated with climate
change,” said Dave Cortese, President, Santa Clara County Board of
Supervisors.
Protecting and restoring San Francisco Bay will benefit the community
for generations by reducing trash and pollution and restoring habitat
for fish, birds and wildlife along the Bay and its shoreline. Brigid
McCormack, executive director of Audubon California, said, “A healthy
San Francisco Bay is vital for the millions of birds that rely upon this
ecosystem. But it is also a prerequisite for Bay Area communities and
businesses to thrive, as well. I am pleased PG&E understands the
connection that we all have to the Bay and am grateful for their
contribution to the Measure AA campaign.”
Studies have shown that should an extreme storm hit and trigger
flooding, much of the Bay Area, including Silicon Valley, is at risk of
suffering significant damage. This includes potential impacts to homes
and businesses, as well as critical infrastructure, such as ports,
airports, water, sewer, transportation and energy facilities. San Mateo
County Economic Development Association President and CEO Rosanne Foust
said, “If the Bay Area gets hit with an extreme storm and we experience
severe flooding, the damages associated with it would reach into the
billions, greatly impacting the business community. Supporting ‘Yes on
Measure AA’ is a critical step in reducing that risk.”
President and CEO of the Bay Area Council Jim Wunderman said, “Wetland
restoration pencils out. Not only do wetlands provide vital habitat for
the fish, birds and other wildlife the Bay needs to thrive, but they
also act as a natural sponge, absorbing storm surges and adapting to
rising sea levels. This is especially important given recent estimates
from the Bay Area Council Economic Institute that the region could
suffer more than $10 billion in economic damages during a 150-year
extreme storm event. I applaud PG&E and Tony Earley for exhibiting the
corporate leadership necessary to keep our Bay clean, healthy and safe.”
Silicon Valley Leadership Group President and CEO Carl Guardino said,
“It’s rare to see such a diverse group of business, environmental,
corporate and civic leaders unite for the same cause. It’s happening
today because this initiative impacts each and every one of us who lives
and works in the area. And because of the important innovation that
happens here, its effects are far reaching.”
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said, “The Bay is the lifeblood of our
region. Wetlands on its shoreline are critical for climate resilience in
the decades ahead, and our future vitality as a region requires robust
investment in their restoration.”
PG&E’s commitment to the environment, which includes providing its
customers with some of the nation’s cleanest energy—with more than 55
percent coming from non-greenhouse gas emitting sources—has grown to
include a focus on adapting to changing climate conditions, and ensuring
its system is more resilient to extreme weather conditions. This ranges
from modernizing infrastructure with new technologies to collaborating
on emergency response plans and procedures to address near-term risks
such as storms, heat waves and wildfires. PG&E also maintains a team of
scientists who monitor sea level rise, temperature increases and other
factors to assess the likelihood of potential impacts in the future.
“We are a company with a strong and enduring commitment to the
environment and combating climate change. It’s rooted in a commitment to
our customers and to doing our work in a way that protects the vital
species and habitats that call our service area home and that’s why
we’re pleased to be joining this important effort,” said Earley.
For more information on PG&E’s sustainability leadership, see the
company’s 2015 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Report at www.pgecorp.com/sustainability.
About PG&E Corporation
PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG) is a Fortune 200 energy-based holding
company, headquartered in San Francisco. It is the parent company of
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, California’s largest investor-owned
utility. PG&E serves about 16 million Californians across a 70,000
square-mile service area in Northern and Central California. For more
information, visit http://www.pgecorp.com/
and www.pge.com.
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Source: PG&E Corporation