Watch CBS News

San Francisco Supe Calls For Public Power Amid PG&E Bankruptcy

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – As Pacific Gas & Electric Co. files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, a San Francisco supervisor seeks to jumpstart the process of creating a public utility to replace PG&E in the city.

Supervisor Hillary Ronen introduced the legislation Tuesday, which also calls for the creation of a "Green New Deal" fund.

"In the context of PG&E's potentially criminal role in the deadliest wildfire in US history and their mad scramble now to avoid bankruptcy, I can't think of a better time to be doing this. For years, we have been struggling to take incremental steps to deliver clean, green, public power to San Franciscans, while PG&E has spent millions trying to block us," Ronen said in a statement.

Earlier on Tuesday, PG&E filed for bankruptcy protection as the San Francisco-based utility company potentially faces billions of dollars in liabilities resulting from the massive wildfires in 2017 and 2018.

Ronen wants to secure $15 million from the city's property tax windfall to start the study, purchase and construction of a publicly-owned power grid.

"With the clock ticking on climate change and PG&E's performance getting worse and worse, we can't let them continue to hold us hostage," the supervisor went on to say.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.