Senator Suzette Valladares from Santa Clarita has urged for a statewide applicability of the exemption provided by Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent executive order. The order removes the CEQA requirements for undergrounding utility lines in wildfire-affected areas of Los Angeles County. Valladares argued that the risk of wildfires caused by overhead power lines is a statewide issue that requires uniform attention.
“The Governor’s action is a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t go far enough,” Valladares stated, emphasizing the need for broader measures. She underscored that the streamlining of the undergrounding process should extend beyond just regions recently impacted by fires to safeguard all Californians.
The potential dangers posed by above-ground power infrastructure sparking wildfires are not new to California. Despite this, Senator Valladares noted that bureaucratic delays have significantly slowed efforts to relocate these power lines underground. In response, she has put forth SB 252, a legislative proposal aimed at permanently removing CEQA obstacles hindering the completion of these critical projects across California.
“We cannot allow red tape to stand in the way of fire prevention,” Valladares added. She expressed hope that Governor Newsom would endorse her bill, which seeks to empower all communities, regardless of recent wildfire experiences, to take preventive actions against future disasters.
