Washington – Rep. Jack Bergman (MI-1) released the following statement after voting in favor the Electric Reliability and Forest Protection Act (H.R. 1873), legislation that aims to prevent forest fires by making it possible for utility companies to remove vegetation that is dangerously close to transmission lines:
“Even now, in 2017, Michigan’s First District and rural areas across the United States don’t have consistent access to energy. This bipartisan legislation aims to address obstacles that undermine energy reliability by decreasing the risk of blackouts and ultimately lowering utility costs for users. Furthermore, it keeps Michigan’s lands and wildlife healthy by allowing rural electric co-ops, utilities, and municipal power providers to remove trees that could fall on transmission lines, sparking wildfires and causing power outages for thousands of households. I’m proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in voting to protect our communities and protect our environment from forest fires.”
