Greed Or Incompetence: What's Behind The California Power Cuts?

Most of the news surrounding the electricity shutoffs in California - done to avert the ignition of additional wildfires by aging electrical infrastructure - has focused on two things: climate change and the greedy, incompetent management of Pacific Gas & Electric.
Missing in this discussion is the broad neglect of the complex infrastructure of the United States and possibly other wealthy nations. The American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE) most recent "Infrastructure Report Card" gave the United States an overall grade of D+. (Those readers unfamiliar with the American system for grading schoolwork should note that "E" is a failing grade.)

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