Scenic America strongly supports California Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order to expedite the undergrounding of electric power lines in the state’s most wildfire-prone areas. This bold move aligns with Scenic America’s mission to build safer, stronger, more resilient, and more scenic communities through the strategic undergrounding of utility infrastructure.

The urgency of this effort could not be clearer. In the opening months of 2025, Los Angeles endured a devastating outbreak of wildfires, with fast-moving flames sweeping through neighborhoods, destroying homes, and forcing widespread evacuations. These fires, fueled in part by exposed overhead power lines and energy infrastructure, came on the heels of a devastating wildfire season in 2024, which saw over 8,000 wildfires burn more than one million acres across California. In Los Angeles alone, the economic impact of wildfire losses has been estimated between $135 billion and $150 billion, making this one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history.

Aboveground power lines have repeatedly been linked to catastrophic wildfires. Strategic utilities undergrounding is not only a commonsense public safety measure, it’s also a proven wildfire prevention strategy. According to Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), placing lines underground reduces the risk of ignition by approximately 98%. There is no grid hardening strategy that is as effective at mitigating the risk of wildfire than simply moving power lines underground.

Undergrounding also makes economic sense in the long term. These systems require significantly less maintenance, are more resilient to extreme weather, and have been shown to increase property values. The cost of undergrounding is far outweighed by the cumulative cost of insurance, legal settlements, disaster response, and utility liability associated with aboveground lines.

Scenic America has been a leader in advancing undergrounding efforts and wildfire mitigation strategies, and our collaboration with national undergrounding coalition partners has yielded results and influence. In 2023, our advocacy helped increase PG&E’s approved undergrounding plan from 200 to 1,230 miles. In the wake of the recent devastation in Los Angeles, we have opened dialogue with lawmakers, regulators, and community partners to rebuild decimated electric infrastructure with safety, sustainability, and scenic beauty at the forefront. We believe this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink infrastructure and protect communities from future wildfire devastation.

We applaud Governor Newsom’s leadership and are committed to supporting California’s efforts through research, policy guidance, and grassroots advocacy. Together, we can build a more resilient and beautiful future for California and the United States as a whole.