Peninsula Clean Energy to defy PG&E blackouts with battery backup

Peninsula Clean Energy, a community choice electricity provider in California’s San Mateo County, will fund the roll-out of renewables-powered battery backup systems for medically vulnerable residents and essential community services affected by planned power outages carried out by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).

Peninsula Clean Energy said last week its board had voted to commit up to USD 10 million (EUR 8.96m) for over three years to support the installation of clean backup systems within its service area, where grid maintenance is done by PG&E.

PG&E, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), has been de-energising and re-energising its power lines across California for the past several weeks to prevent its electrical equipment spark wind-driven wildfires. Peninsula Clean Energy said portions of San Mateo County experienced power outages three times in two weeks.

The County electricity provider will develop emergency battery backup systems and start rolling out the programme next year on eligible homes and community facilities.

“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,” Peninsula Clean Energy CEO Jan Pepper said.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.896)

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