The California Public Utilities Commission is urging PG&E to remove as many as 200,000 felled trees that were cut down in 2020 wildfires zones.
State regulators have sent a letter to PG&E demanding the utility remove the cut down trees from 2020 wildfire zones that were initially left to property owners.
The letter asks the utility to begin work on removing the discarded wood as well as to develop and make clear a plan for future fires.
"It's unsightly, it's unsafe," said State Senator Bill Dodd, who represents parts of Sonoma and Napa. "It's not good for the environment, it's also a fire danger."
According to Dodd, the utility's tree removal policy worked well following 2017's Tubbs and Atlas Peak Fires but has fallen to the wayside in recent years.
"Any wood larger than four inches in diameter is left on site," said Deanna Contreras, spokesperson for PG&E. The wood is considered the property of the landowner, she said.
"There's no legal, regulatory requirement to remove the larger diameter wood," said Contreras.
PG&E customers can call or e-mail by Sept. 14 to have the wood removed from their property, the process for which is now underway.
Dodd is meeting with PG&E's new CEO next week where he hopes to learn more about the scale and timeline of the project.
"They need to do the right thing, and the right thing is when they make a mess, clean it up," said Dodd.
