HARTMANN'S HOT AIR: PG&E BLACKOUTS GOOD FOR WILDFIRE, BAD FOR VOTERS!

Noozhawk recently let Supervisor Joan Hartmann step onto her soapbox, where she lectured us all on the profound wisdom that 'stopping wildfires takes more than keeping the lights on.' Truly groundbreaking insight from our esteemed Supervisors, who, one might recall, have done precious little themselves to reduce fuel loads that don't involve sending in highly-paid consultants for 'environmental impact studies.' It seems the path to fire safety, much like her district's progressive policies, requires us all to sacrifice modern conveniences while local government pats itself on the back for 'thought leadership.'

Hartmann's piece, while purporting to critique utility companies for their public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) – a rather obvious and well-trodden complaint – quickly pivoted to praise the abstract 'multi-pronged approach' favored by Sacramento and her ilk. This, of course, means more regulations, more committees, and fewer common-sense solutions like aggressively clearing brush that doesn't host an endangered beetle. It’s a delicate dance: criticize the utility for shutting off power, but never question the green mandates that cripple grid reliability and prevent proper forest management in the first place.

The real angle Noozhawk missed is the sheer chutzpah of local officials like Hartmann who demand reliable power grids while simultaneously championing every single environmental obstacle to energy infrastructure development. It’s like demanding a gourmet meal from a chef whose kitchen you’ve just dismantled in the name of 'sustainability.' The Supervisors wring their hands over utility failures, yet they rubber-stamp every single proposal that makes energy more expensive and less reliable, all while the state burns. Perhaps the Supervisors should spend less time penning op-eds and more time clearing the thickets of bureaucracy they've created.

Ultimately, Hartmann's sermon is less about preventing wildfires and more about deflecting blame. It’s a masterclass in political rhetoric: acknowledge a problem everyone agrees on, blame a convenient corporate entity, and then subtly advocate for more of the same policies that contribute to the problem. Meanwhile, we'll continue to pay higher energy bills for less reliable service, all while being told it's for our own good. Don't worry, though; the Supervisors' offices will always have power.