Earth Day: Hundreds of PG&E Volunteers Spruce Up California State Parks

At Folsom Lake State Recreation Area on Saturday (April 13), PG&E President Chris Johns helped to repair a split-rail fence. Johns, wearing his “Power of Blue” T-shirt, was joined by his wife and about 80 other PG&E volunteers who picked up trash, removed non-native species and painted curbs and fences.

Hundreds of PG&E employees and their family and friends did similar work at parks throughout California this weekend.

As part of its first-ever Month of Service and continuing a long tradition of supporting California’s state parks and the California State Parks Foundation in celebration of Earth Day, PG&E volunteers worked up a sweat to benefit the places that make where they live and work so special.

“PG&E has had a terrific collaboration with the State Parks Foundation for 12 years, and we’re proud once again to be a presenting sponsor of the 2013 Earth Day Restoration and Cleanup,” Johns said. “But our support isn’t limited to the Earth Day cleanup. Our sponsorship — this year about $277,000 — goes to the Parks Foundation for maintenance and improvement projects at state parks throughout the year.”

At Dunes Beach at Half Moon Bay State Beach in San Mateo County, 91 volunteers pulled non-native species and mixed, poured and leveled concrete for animal-proof trash cans that will be installed.During the previous 11 years, PG&E employees, retirees and their families and friends have dedicated nearly 25,000 volunteer hours to our parks on Earth Day. Some of the parks that got attention this weekend included:

• At Patrick’s Point State Park in the Sonoma County redwoods, 116 volunteers – including 35 from PG&E – spent the morning pulling weeds and non-native species. They also collected one bin of donated food.
• At Auburn State Recreation Area along the north and middle forks of the American River, nearly 170 volunteers – including 70 from PG&E – picked up litter and painted over graffiti.

• High atop Mt. Diablo, 31 PG&E volunteers painted three buildings, cleared non-native vegetation, filled holes made by squirrels and repaired a bridge at the State Park.
• At Eastshore State Park in Alameda County, 75 volunteers – including 41 PG&E employees and their families and friends – dug, chopped, pulled and otherwise cleared non-native fennel bush.
• At Montana de Oro State Park in San Luis Obispo County, 120 volunteers – including 74 representing PG&E – built 240 feet of fencing, removed brush from a half mile of trail and planted 300 native species on a hillside. “It’s really more about our leadership as employees out in the community and making a positive impact on our community and, of course, on our environment,” said Ed Halpin, PG&E’s chief nuclear officer and senior vice president told KSBY-TV.
• At the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park in Santa Cruz County, 125 volunteers installed seasonal bridges and painted the park entrance signs.
• In Fresno County, 75 volunteers – including many from PG&E – cleared trails, picked up trash at camp sites and planted trees at Millerton Lake State Recreation Area.

• PG&E volunteers will take part in nearly 200 community projects during April as part of the Month of Service. Through April 15, 1,998 employees have donated 5,980 hours of service so far this month.At Angel Island State Park in the San Francisco Bay, 45 PG&E volunteers cleaned up a dock, split wood and did vegetation and landscaping work at the Immigration Station.