Budget Crunch Threatens California's Climate Resilience Plans

Facing a massive budget due to the declining revenues created by the coronavirus pandemic, California will have to cut a program intended to retrofit homes and roofs as a protection against wildfire, among other climate resilience programs.

June 9, 2020, 10am PDT | James Brasuell | @CasualBrasuell

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"Still recovering from devastating wildfires, California was poised to spend billions of dollars to prepare for future fires and other extreme weather disasters," according to an article by Lauren Sommer.

Then came the coronavirus, and "with a $54 billion budget deficit, the programs are being put on hold."

The state had planned on investing to "harden" existing homes as a defense against wildfire. Similar retrofitting programs had been piloted in parts of the state, but the state had planned on expanding those efforts.

"Last year, California lawmakers approved the first major statewide program for incentivizing such home-retrofits," according to Sommer. "In January, Governor Gavin Newsom announced $100 million in state and federal money to help homeowners replace roofs and make their homes more fire-resistant, particularly in low-income communities where upgrades may be out of reach for many." Newsom proposed a suspension of the program in May to help cover the costs of the state's growing budget deficit, in addition to other other climate resilience programs documented int he source article

Full Story:

California Was Set To Spend Over $1 Billion to Prevent Wildfires. Then Came COVID-19

Published on Sunday, June 7, 2020 in North State Public Radio