Fire, Power, Money
by Justin Shores
FIRE, POWER, MONEY
Justin Shores
Decoding the Los Angeles Firestorms
In the shadow of the charred landscapes left by the Los Angeles wildfires, ABC's investigative series "Fire, Power, Money" becomes a poignant lens through which we can examine the recent calamities. This series, which explores the intricate web of wildfires, utility companies, and political influence in California, has found new echoes in the fires that have recently engulfed parts of LA County. These fires, which have not only claimed lives but have also obliterated many thousands of structures, serve as a grim testament to the ongoing narrative of fire, power, and money.
The series seeks to explain that wildfires are not merely acts of nature but are significantly influenced by human activity, particularly – at least through their lenses – the negligence or failures of utility companies. The series focuses on PG&E's role in the 2018 Camp Fire that took 85 lives, burned over 153,000 acres, and obliterated more than 18,000 structures, but its implications stretch across California, including to Southern California Edison (SCE) and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), now under the microscope for their potential involvement in the LA fires.
The ignition of wildfires often begins with something as simple as a spark from a powerline, exacerbated by high winds, dry vegetation, and human-made landscapes. The Eaton Fire, one of the latest in LA, has sparked discussions of whether a transmission tower was the initial ignition source, drawing direct parallels to the series' findings on PG&E. Recent lawsuits filed against SCE allege that the utility failed to de-energize its power lines during high-risk wind events, a decision that could have prevented the fire's spread. The investigations into these fires are still underway, but the pattern is disturbingly familiar: utility infrastructure, under certain conditions, can act as an accelerant for disaster.
Power Lines and Regulations
The series delves deep into how utility companies manage their infrastructure, highlighting a systemic issue of under-investment in maintenance and upgrades, driven by financial considerations over safety. "Fire, Power, Money" alleges that PG&E prioritized profits over safety, leading to the deadly Camp Fire. In LA, the narrative repeats as SCE and LADWP face similar criticisms. The decision to keep lines energized during high-risk wind events, or the implementation of Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS), becomes a tightrope walk between avoiding a financial hit and preventing catastrophic fires.
Regulatory oversight, or the lack thereof, has been a recurring theme. The series shows how agencies like the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) have sometimes been more lenient in enforcing stringent safety standards, influenced by political and financial pressures. This regulatory dynamic is crucial in understanding why, despite previous disasters, the same issues persist with new fires.
The Money Trail
Utility companies, like PG&E, have significant lobbying power, which they use to shape regulatory environments. Campaign contributions from utilities to politicians often result in policies that favor corporate interests. In the context of the LA fires, this financial influence might explain the hesitancy or perceived inadequacy in regulatory responses to utility companies' practices or the implementation of preventive measures.
The economic implications of managing wildfires are profound. The cost of maintaining power during high-risk conditions versus the massive financial and human toll of wildfires creates a paradox where the choice is between immediate economic impact or long-term devastation.
Political Influence and Accountability
The political dimension of the wildfire epidemic is as critical as it is complex. "Fire, Power, Money" examines how politicians might prioritize economic growth over public safety, a reflection seen in the slow pace of regulatory reform post-disaster. In LA, as in the rest of California, elected officials' responses have been criticized for being reactive rather than proactive, often seen after the fires have already wreaked havoc.
Lack of accountability is another focal point. The series questions how utility companies like PG&E could continue operations with minimal repercussions after being found criminally liable for fires. In LA, the community and victims are now looking for answers and accountability from SCE and LADWP, questioning the adequacy of the current system to protect against future fires.
Looking Forward
The series calls for better regulation, more accountability for utility companies, and a reevaluation of how political influence shapes public safety. The LA fires amplify this call, highlighting the need for:
Robust Maintenance and Upgrades: Investing in infrastructure to prevent power lines from sparking fires.
Transparent Regulation: Ensuring that regulatory bodies operate independently from corporate influence.
Proactive Legislation: Crafting laws that prioritize safety and environmental considerations over immediate economic impacts.
Community and Environmental Resilience: Enhancing natural landscapes to resist fire spread and preparing communities with better evacuation and alert systems.
You lost me when you based this on ABC's investigative series. Although some aspects of your causerie is based on truth. The main culprit of this never-ending repeating cycle of preventative devastation is placed solely on the failed policies and directives of our Democrat Politicians, Bureaucrats and aligned Environmental Commissars in Sacramento through the snowballing effect of decades long policies, regulations and ridiculous environmental mandates. The doom loop will continue until the underlying problem is addressed...a complete transformation of the body politic in California and an overhaul of the regulatory state.
I edited the first of his four moving forward bullets. I would hope all of these would be considered across the board. Sadly I think the third one will be the hardest to pull off - not just in CA but everywhere.
Robust Maintenance and Upgrades: Investing in infrastructure..
Transparent Regulation: Ensuring that regulatory bodies operate independently from corporate influence.
Proactive Legislation: Crafting laws that prioritize safety and environmental considerations over immediate economic impacts.
Community and Environmental Resilience: Enhancing natural landscapes to resist fire spread and preparing communities with better evacuation and alert systems.