News Releases

Consumer Watchdog Exposes Oil Refiner Disinformation Campaign As Price Gouging Penalty Deliberations Begin At California Energy Commission

November 28, 2023  ·  Jamie Court

 Sacramento, CA –  Consumer Watchdog released a new video today to counter a disinformation campaign by the state’s oil refiners lobby as it seeks to discredit the...

Valero Posts $2.6 Billion 3rd Q Profit On CA Gasoline Margins 56.5% Greater Than Other Regions; Shows Need For Expedited Price Gouging Penalty, Consumer Watchdog Says 

October 26, 2023  ·  Liza Tucker

*This press release has been updated: Valero posted 3rd Q profit on CA Gasoline Margins that are 56.5% greater than other regions, not 70%. It made...

Governor Newsom signs AB 1167, the Orphan Well Prevention Act, and vetoes SB 842, bill that would have undermined the price gouging penalty law

October 9, 2023  ·  Alexandra Nagy

Environmental and climate justice groups celebrate a “huge win” to make polluters pay to clean up idle oil wells and to continue holding refiners accountable...

CalGEM Continues 2023 Oil Permit Approvals in Vulnerable Communities, Works Against Legislation Raising Billions in Oil Bonding to Plug Unproductive Wells; Newsom Must Ignore Regulator and Sign AB 1167, Advocacy Groups Say

October 5, 2023  ·  Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA—The state’s oil and gas regulator CalGEM has gone rogue, approving hundreds of oil permits this year in vulnerable communities breathing poisonous emissions...

California Gas Price Gap With US Grows To $1.86 Per Gallon; New State Market Monitor Pins Price Spike On Potential Spot Market Manipulation & Refinery Maintenance

September 27, 2023  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA – As new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows Californians  pay $1.86 more per gallon than US drivers for gasoline, the state’s new...

Fifty-Five Organizations Call on Gov. Newsom to Veto Bill Weakening His Landmark Refinery Price Gouging Bill

September 21, 2023  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA —Fifty-five organizations have sent a letter to Governor Newsom urging him to veto SB 842 (Bradford), legislation that would make it more cumbersome to assess...

Dirty Last Minute Deal To Weaken Gasoline Price Gouging Law Passes Under Radar; Gasoline Prices Up Steeply In California And State Has Failed To Respond

September 15, 2023  ·  Jamie Court

Sacramento, CA — A bill amended 72 hours before the end of the legislative session and passed in the dead of night without debate would...

Prominent Public Interest Groups Support Consumer Watchdog Petition To CA Supreme Court To Require State Agencies To Enforce Strict Rule On Radioactive Debris Disposal From Santa Susana Site

July 18, 2023  ·  Liza Tucker

Supreme Court Action Needed To Protect Hundreds Of Thousands Of Californians From Harm Los Angeles, CA—Public interest groups filed amicus letters with the California Supreme...

California Oil Regulators Continue Issuing Permits In Q2 To Rework Leaky, Unproductive Wells; Should Order Plugging Instead, Advocates Say

July 13, 2023  ·  Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA—The total number of oil drilling permits issued blew past 15,000 since Governor Newsom took office in 2019, while nearly all permits issued...

CA Anti-Gouging Law Has Led To Lower Gasoline Prices, Consumer Watchdog Finds

June 28, 2023  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA—California gasoline prices have dropped significantly and stabilized relative to national gas prices in the wake of the Governor’s call, and enactment of,...

Consumer Watchdog Asks CA Finance Dept. To Strike Continued Funding For Failed SF Mobile Recycling Pilot From Budget

June 22, 2023  ·  Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA— Consumer Watchdog has called upon the Governor’s Department of Finance to strike a $500,000 allocation in the legislative-approved budget for the San...

SF BottleBank Pilot To Refund CRV Bottle Deposits A Bust; Coalition Gives CalRecyle Checklist for Reform 

June 12, 2023  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA—The San Francisco BottleBank bottle deposit return  pilot featuring trucks rotating between supermarket parking lots has burned through over $3.6 million in state...