What didn’t get discussed when PG&E turned out the lights, and what must change
https://www.elkgrovenews.net/2019/10/what-didnt-get-discussed-when-pg-turned.html
By Mary Creasman, Special
to CalMatters |
Life as
we know it quickly comes to a halt without electricity, as hundreds of
thousands of people learned when PG&E shut off power in the October
windstorm.
Schools
and businesses closed, and people scrambled to make sure they had
supplies.
But as
people tried to get by without power, something was missing from many of the
discussions: the role of climate change in the power shut off.
Gov. Gavin
Newsom went so far as to say: “The power shut-offs by
PG&E are not a story of climate change. It’s a story of greed and
mismanagement. Of recklessness and putting profits before people.
It’s
outrageous and unacceptable.”
Now, I
don’t disagree with the second half of his statement.
Gov.
Newsom is absolutely right that PG&E has repeatedly prioritized profits
over people. Frankly, I’m not really surprised by this. Corporations are always
going to protect their bottom line. And the governor isn’t the only one who has
leaned into this narrative.
But
here’s the thing. We’re missing the bigger picture about the climate crisis.
The PG&E power shut off is a story about the climate crisis and corporate
greed.
It
is a story about how California is unprepared for the massive change we need to
make in order to cope with what’s happening.
PG&E
is but one example of how the climate crisis is affecting our state.
Californians have already lost their homes to fire and mudslides. Cities are
contending with extreme heat and flooding.
Refugees
are seeking refuge from across the border. These are all loud, flashing warning
signs that the effects of climate change have begun.
We are faced
with something unprecedented. To deal with the climate crisis, we are going to
have to radically transform our economy, our infrastructure, our housing, our
way of life.
Everything.
While the
scale of this problem can feel overwhelming, it should also be viewed as an
enormous opportunity. Our current economic structure was built on extraction,
pollution, and exploitation. It was built through violence against nature and
communities where mostly people of color live. We have a sweeping chance to
change that.
We can
change our economy, infrastructure, and land use to be rooted in justice. We
can create jobs that pay fair wages. We can have healthy communities with clean
air to breathe and clean water to drink. We can reimagine our society in a
better way while we tackle the climate crisis.
One
cannot be done without the other.
But to
make this happen, we need two things to take place:
- People need to
demand action.
- Our government
must step up with visionary leadership.
This is
why we have government, to regulate and innovate and push for change in
the face of dire circumstances.
Researchers
say we have until 2030 to figure out how to stop the most catastrophic impacts
to come. We need our elected officials to make unprecedented change happen
now.
What we
need isn’t easy. It’s a bigger task than we’ve ever faced before. No action can
be too bold in this moment.
This
isn’t about pointing fingers. Pointing fingers and outrage is easy, and too
prevalent. This is about coming together. Taking responsibility for our current
conditions and the role we can play is what’s needed. An urgent and
comprehensive vision is needed. Leadership is what is needed.
We’re
missing the point if we just talk about how PG&E isn’t putting the public
good first, true though that is.
Instead,
our political leaders should map out a vision for how we prepare for our
future, fight climate change, and right so many historic injustices. That is
the role of government in a crisis.
____
Mary
Creasman is the chief executive officer of the California League of
Conservation Voters, mary@ecovote.org. She wrote this commentary for
CalMatters, a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how
California's Capitol works and why it matters.
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