{"product_id":"california-burning-the-fall-of-pacific-gas-and-electric-and-9780593330654b","title":"California Burning: The Fall of Pacific Gas and Electric--and What It Means for America's Power Grid","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA 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\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePacific Gas and Electric was a legacy company built by innovators and visionaries, establishing California as a desirable home and economic powerhouse. In \u003ci\u003eCalifornia Burning, Wall Street Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 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\u0026amp;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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBeginning with PG\u0026amp;E’s public reckoning after the Paradise fire, Blunt chronicles the evolution of PG\u0026amp;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, \u003ci\u003eCalifornia Burning \u003c\/i\u003ereveals the forces that shaped the plight of PG\u0026amp;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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eCalifornia Burning \u003c\/i\u003eis 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.","brand":"Portfolio","offers":[{"title":"Bargain","offer_id":42869346861136,"sku":"9780593330654B","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0592\/8173\/5760\/files\/9780593330654-l.jpg?v=1785892665","url":"https:\/\/bookoutlet.com\/products\/california-burning-the-fall-of-pacific-gas-and-electric-and-9780593330654b","provider":"Book Outlet","version":"1.0","type":"link"}