Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor John Cruikshank is interesting to tech billionaire Elon Musk for assist in helping householders coping with fuel shutoffs and presumably energy shutoffs amid worsening landslides.
“Whereas our neighborhood is resilient, this example presents a singular alternative to show a setback right into a showcase of sustainable residing,” Cruikshank wrote in a letter to the Tesla founder on Aug. 8 and posted on X, which Musk additionally owns. “Given Tesla’s developments in photo voltaic know-how and storage options, we see a possible partnership to equip these properties with photo voltaic panels and Powerwall batteries.”
It’s not clear whether or not Musk has obtained the letter or plans to go to the area; Tesla has not but responded to requests for remark.
The coastal neighborhood has been coping with a slow-moving landslide for many years, however historic rainstorms in 2023-24 have accelerated its motion and created the present emergency. As much as a foot of land motion per week has been recorded in latest months, fracturing the partitions of properties and blowing off roofs, shearing underground pipes and opening large fissures within the earth.
Since October, Rancho Palos Verdes has been underneath an area state of emergency.
On July 29, Southern California Gasoline Co. abruptly reduce off pure fuel service to 135 properties within the coastal metropolis, citing dangers to public security. The subsequent day, Southern California Edison notified greater than 500 properties that energy might quickly be reduce off as nicely.
An electrical energy shutoff would increase quite a lot of neighborhood questions of safety, metropolis officers stated, as a result of electrical energy is vital for telecommunication traces, the sewer system and the pumps that expel the groundwater that geologists say causes floor motion.
Some residents have already left, however many stay of their properties, scrambling to search out methods to take a scorching bathe, cook dinner dinner and heat their properties as they put together for the wet season with out entry to pure fuel.
Cruikshank invited Musk to tour the landslide space “at your earliest comfort.” A partnership with the struggling Rancho Palos Verdes neighborhood, he added, would “exhibit the viability of unpolluted vitality options in a real-world state of affairs, solidifying Tesla’s position as a pacesetter within the inexperienced vitality revolution.”
Cruikshank additionally despatched a letter this month requesting state and federal help for additional landslide repairs, in addition to for particular person residents. Landslides are normally not coated by the California Catastrophe Help Act, or by typical householders insurance coverage insurance policies.
Occasions workers author Grace Toohey contributed to this report.
