California Burning: The Fall of Pacific Gas and Electric--and What It Means for America's Power Grid

Name: California Burning: The Fall of Pacific Gas and Electric--and What It Means for America's Power Grid
Price: 24.80 USD
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Rating: 4.5 (233 reviews)

4.5 of 5 Stars: Economics - California Burning: The Fall of Pacific Gas and Electric--and What It Means for America's Power Grid

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Book Synopsis: NATIONAL BESTSELLER2022 Winner of the Golden Poppy Award for Nonfiction (California Independent Booksellers Alliance)

A revelatory, urgent narrative with national implications, exploring the decline of California’s largest utility company that led to countless wildfires — including the one that destroyed the town of Paradise — and the human cost of infrastructure failure

Pacific Gas and Electric was a legacy company built by innovators and visionaries, establishing California as a desirable home and economic powerhouse. In California Burning, Wall Street Journal reporter and Pulitzer finalist Katherine Blunt examines how that legacy fell apart—unraveling a long history of deadly failures in which Pacific Gas and Electric endangered millions of Northern Californians, through criminal neglect of its infrastructure. As PG&E prioritized profits and politics, power lines went unchecked—until a rusted hook purchased for 56 cents in 1921 split in two, sparking the deadliest wildfire in California history.

Beginning with PG&E’s public reckoning after the Paradise fire, Blunt chronicles the evolution of PG&E’s shareholder base, from innovators who built some of California's first long-distance power lines to aggressive investors keen on reaping dividends. Following key players through pivotal decisions and legal battles, California Burning reveals the forces that shaped the plight of PG&E: deregulation and market-gaming led by Enron Corp., an unyielding push for renewable energy, and a swift increase in wildfire risk throughout the West, while regulators and lawmakers pushed their own agendas.

California Burning is a deeply reported, character-driven narrative, the story of a disaster expanding into a much bigger exploration of accountability. It’s an American tragedy that serves as a cautionary tale for utilities across the nation—especially as climate change makes aging infrastructure more vulnerable, with potentially fatal consequences.

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Are you concerned about the sustainability and safety of our power grid? Look no further than California Burning: The Fall of Pacific Gas and Electric. This national bestseller by Pulitzer finalist Katherine Blunt delves into the decline of California's largest utility company and the catastrophic wildfires it caused, including the devastating destruction of Paradise. With its urgent narrative and national implications, this book is a wake-up call for all Americans.

Discover the shocking truth behind Pacific Gas and Electric's downfall in California Burning. Blunt, a Wall Street Journal reporter, unravels the dark history of deadly failures and criminal neglect that put millions of Northern Californians at risk. Profit and politics took precedence over safety, with power lines left unchecked until a small, 56-cent hook split in two, igniting the deadliest wildfire in California's history. This eye-opening account will leave you speechless.

In California Burning, Blunt takes you on a journey through the evolution of PG&E's shareholder base. From pioneers who built California's early power lines to profit-driven investors, witness their decisions and legal battles that ultimately shaped the company's dire situation. Deregulation, market-gaming, and a relentless pursuit of renewable energy have all contributed to the perfect storm of wildfire risk throughout the West. But it doesn't stop there; this cautionary tale warns utilities nationwide of the potentially fatal consequences of climate change and aging infrastructure.

Don't miss out on this deeply reported, character-driven narrative that goes beyond a simple disaster story. California Burning is an American tragedy that holds the power to change how utilities operate across the entire nation. With its thought-provoking exploration of accountability, this book is an essential read for anyone concerned about the future of our power grid.

Ready to dive into this gripping account of Pacific Gas and Electric's downfall? Get your copy of California Burning: The Fall of Pacific Gas and Electric today and join the conversation on power grid sustainability.

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