Energy

Energy and utility watchdog coverage — gas prices, oil-industry profits, utility rates, and clean-energy accountability.

Will Arnold Take on Chevron?

April 20, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

The lawyer from Ecuador who is prosecuting Chevron for its crimes against the Amazon has written Arnold Schwarzenegger, asking the Gov to get tough with Chevron, which has kicked in more than a...

UC Berkeley biofuels deal stirs debate;

April 20, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Critics of a $500-million agreement with BP to create a lab at the school raise questions about the influence the oil giant would have on campus.</h3>Los Angeles Times Some critics charge that the privately negotiated pact will turn the campus into "UCBP." And they question aspects of the deal that would give the oil company unusual influence at the campus, including exclusive control over some of the institute's expected findings.

BERKELEY: FACULTY PANEL BACKS BIOFUELS DEAL

April 19, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

CBS-TV5 (San Francisco, CA) Playing on the names of the university and the energy company, John Simpson of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights said, "We don't want to see big oil have its latest outpost be UC-BP." Simpson said he believes BP "wants to wrap itself in a clean brand name and greenwash its justifiably dirty image." He referred to a Texas refinery accident in March 2005 in which 15 people were killed and 180 were injured. Simpson said if the Academic Senate doesn't pass a resolution opposing the deal, he would take the matter to UC's Board of Regents and urge it to step in.

Fuel costs set records

April 18, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

Oakland Tribune The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a consumer watchdog group based in Santa Monica, sees it differently. "The spread between gas prices and crude costs is greater than it has been for a very long time," said Jamie Court, the group's president. "There's no explanation other than price gouging."

Rising gas prices do little to dent driving habits:

April 18, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Report shows fuel consumption is actually higher now than last year</h3>The Houston Chronicle (Texas) Americans just seem more conditioned -- and maybe more resigned -- to paying higher gas prices than they were in 2005 and 2006, said Judy Dugan, research director of the Web site <a href="http://www.oilwatchdog.org">www.oilwatchdog.org</a>. The site is a project of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a consumer group based in Santa Monica, Calif.

Faculty Senate Nears Showdown Over UC-BP Pact

April 18, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

The Berkeley Daily Planet (California) Release of the documents sparked a sharp April 12 letter from John M. Simpson of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights to Chancellor Robert Birgeneau. Simpson charged that some of the scientists listed as participants were opponents of the deal and "were shocked to discover that their names and resumes were included," and accused Birgeneau of a "fundamental mischaracterization" in describing the grant process as open.

Edison has plan to give away fluorescent bulbs

April 13, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

Ventura County Star (California) It's a good, civic-minded, energy-saving action, but the wrong payment method, said Judy Dugan, research director for the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights in Santa Monica. "It would be a terrific idea, absolutely smashing -- if shareholders were to pay for this," she said. "For Edison to decide unilaterally to do this, and make rate payers pay for it, tarnishes the idea."

Gas price gouging becomes ever more obvious

April 13, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

San Gabriel Valley Tribune (California) This number means that while oil companies continue to insist there's a direct link between what they pay for crude oil and what they charge for gasoline, that connection has been altered, stretched or eliminated altogether during the last three years. "These figures show that gasoline prices are not about the price of oil, but about maximizing the already obscene profits of oil companies and their refiners," said Judy Dugan, research director for the consumer advocate Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.

Stanford’s deal with Exxon Mobil raised concerns

April 9, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

Sacramento Bee (California) The Stanford deal was controversial from the start, but one aspect recently captured headlines. The San Jose Mercury News reported March 11 that Steve Bing -- a movie producer and environmentalist -- was withdrawing a $2.5 million donation to Stanford and all future donations. (Bing had already donated $22.5 million to the school.) Why? Because Exxon Mobil has exploited its close relationship with Stanford in ads -- on TV and in print -- that seek to portray the company as a "green" company.

Officials’ overseas trips raise eyebrows;

April 6, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Foundation skirts gift limits, critics say</h3>The San Diego Union-Tribune One watchdog group has demanded that Kehoe and Levine disclose details of the trip immediately. Carmen Balber of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights wrote to Kehoe that it was with "great concern that we learned of your participation in a study trip to a foreign country with the very companies you are charged with overseeing."

Group wants details of trip:

April 5, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Expense-paid Japan travel for lawmakers, regulators bothers consumer advocates</h3>Sacramento Bee (California) "It was with great concern that we learned of your participation in a 'study trip' to a foreign country with the very companies you are charged with overseeing," wrote Carmen Balber of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, in letters to Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, and Sen. Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego.

State officials’ free junket to Japan with execs raises brows

April 3, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

Sacramento Bee (California) "What makes this trip so particularly egregious is that the corporations are focusing on the exact levers of power in hosting this junket for the state's top utility cops," said Doug Heller of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a consumer-advocacy group. "If you had to identify the people with the most responsibility over utility issues in the state, they've brought the two in the Legislature and 40 percent of the Public Utilities Commission."