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C a l i f o r n i a ’ s O l d e s t N e w s pa p e r – E s t. 18 51
Volume 170 • Issue 37 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Monday, March 29, 2021
Judge mulls more PG&E shutoffs Dawn Hodson Staff writer U.S. District Judge William Alsup on Tuesday indicated he was considering requiring PG&E to increase how often power is turned off where power lines are near tall trees in order to prevent the utility’s equipment from sparking additional fires. Alsup is overseeing PG&E’s — William Alsup, safety precautions U.S. District judge as part of the company’s criminal probation after its natural gas line blew up a neighborhood in San Bruno in 2010. Under the stricter safety measures Alsup is weighing, PG&E projected the utility would have to proactively turn off power 45 different times during the next decade, a 67% increase from the 27 deliberate outages predicted in that time under current standards. Such a change could nearly double the number of outages in El Dorado County. The federal court hearing came a day after California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials announced they had determined the Zogg Fire in Shasta County that killed four people and destroyed 204 homes in September of last year was started by tree branches that came into contact with PG&E power lines. PG&E executives in July 2020 announced the power giant had emerged from bankruptcy triggered by its responsibility for wildfires in 2017 and 2018 that killed more than 100 people and destroyed more than 27,000 buildings. Following those disasters and to reduce the risk from more wildfires, in 2018 PG&E adopted a program of preemptively cutting power in areas where fire danger is high, typically when dry and windy conditions occur in late summer and early autumn in certain parts of the state. “My view is quite clear: We should save lives,” Alsup said during the court hearing. “We don’t have the luxury to wait around. I am not open to the idea that we would kick the can down the road and study the problem to death.” Alsup also blamed state regulators for years of lax oversight and in particular the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates PG&E. CPUC attorneys argued against additional power outages, contending such a move would impose an undue hardship on about 900,000 people who live in mostly rural areas. In their brief filed with the court CPUC attorneys noted, “(Public safety power
“My view is quite clear: We should save lives,”
Mountain Democrat photos by Krysten Kellum
The El Dorado County Public Health Department headquarters at 931 Spring St. in Placerville were built in 1952. County staff say the Spring Street facilities, which include neighboring 935 A and B, built in 1947, and 937, built in 1949, have been assessed as at “end of life.” Renovation or replacement of the buildings are projected to cost $25 million and upwards.
Study to decide future of Spring Street facilities Communicable Disease Control/ Prevention. A proposed Buildings 935 A renovation of county and B on Spring facilities on Spring Street were built Street in Placerville in 1947. The 935 A was considered at location is utilized Tuesday’s El Dorado to support The County Board Club, an older of Supervisor’s adult day services meeting with the program operated board approving by the Community preparation of a and Social Services conceptual plan Division. The on what should be 935 B location is the future of the utilized to support buildings. the El Dorado The plan will The old juvenile hall on Fair Lane in Placerville could be the future site of the El County Psychiatric consider whether to: Dorado County Psychiatric Health Facility. Health Facility to Relocate the provide intensive Psychiatric Health Facility from Spring mental health and planning. Street to the old juvenile hall in psychiatric treatment. The conceptual study will Placerville examine whether the county should Another building at 937 Spring Engage a facilities planner to retain the Spring Street property or St. was built in 1949 and is used support moving the courts out of sell it off. to provide the Area Agency on the space below the old juvenile The three facilities on Spring Aging programs for residents hall and into El Dorado County Street to be examined include a 60 years of age and older as Government Center Building C building at 931 Spring St. that well as others. Services include as well as options to move the was built in 1952. It is used to Alzheimer’s support, counseling Elections Department. house many of Health and Human services, a family caregiver Direct staff to utilize the facilities Service’s Public Health programs, support, health education, health planner to define programming including the Vital Statistics insurance counseling and advocacy, needs for Health and Human Office, California Children’s n See Spring Street, page 10 Services and other options for space Services, Clinical Services and Dawn Hodson Staff writer
n
See PG&E, page 8
State expands COVID vaccine eligibility Anne Ternus-Bellamy Davis Enterprise All California residents ages 50 and up will become eligible for COVID-19 vaccines beginning April 1 and everyone 16 and over just two weeks later. Additionally, effective immediately, healthcare providers will have the discretion to vaccinate family members of those currently eligible who accompany them to their vaccine appointments. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the expanded eligibility Thursday, saying “in just a few weeks, there will be no rules, no limitations as it relates to the ability to get a vaccine administered.”
“We have built out a system in this state where we can conservatively administer 3 million doses a week,” he said, and “by the end of next month, we’ll be able to administer 4 million doses each week.” Supply has been the only constraint in California, the governor said, but more vaccine doses are expected in the weeks ahead, not only of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine but also of the Pfizer and Moderna. Until April 1, vaccines will remain limited to those groups previously declared eligible, including those 16 to 64 with severe health conditions or disabilities, but now family members who accompany eligible individuals to vaccine clinics can
also be vaccinated. “It really is a race of vaccines “Effective today, against variants and we need to do regardless of your age, regardless of this quickly.” your pre-existing — Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the state condition, if Department of Health and Human Services someone comes in eligible under the existing rules but with a family demand once that limitation as member, we will accommodate the it relates to the current tiering is family member no questions asked,” lifted,” said Newsom. said Newsom. “That flexibility is Meanwhile, California, like the effective today.” rest of the world, remains in a race All Californians are encouraged to against variants of the virus. visit MyTurn.ca.gov to register and “We’re monitoring 474 individuals find vaccine appointments. that … have the UK variant,” “We are now working with Newsom said. “We now have six providers up and down the state to n See Vaccine, page 5 prepare for a surge of access and
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