Energy

Refinery Expert Is at Odds With Shell

July 24, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>A state-hired consultant finds that a Bakersfield site the company plans to shut down still is 'economically feasible.'</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Critics believe that Shell wants to close its Bakersfield plant to boost profits at its two other California refineries, based in Wilmington and Martinez in the Bay Area.</p>

Hybrid Cars Get a Big Push; Not So Fast, Others Say;

July 20, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Officials want to give incentives to owners of fuel-efficient vehicles. But transit experts decry a bill that would let solo drivers use HOV lanes.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>In Sacramento, many auto manufacturers making larger hybrids are lobbying to have their upcoming models eligible for carpool lanes.</p>

Lay championed energy deregulation

July 8, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Contra Costa Times (California)</p> <p>"Even though Enron didn't make off with the biggest bag of money, you have to look at Enron and specifically Ken Lay to understand how we got into (the energy crisis) in the first place," said Doug Heller, with FTCR, which is strongly opposed to deregulat</p>

FTC launches Shell antitrust probe

July 8, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Seattle Times</p> <p>A watchdog group, The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, last month sent internal company documents to the FTC that show Shell faces no shortage of crude for its California refineries, according to Jamie Court, the group's president.</p>

State Senate Panel Backs Bill for Energy Revamp;

June 30, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The measure would let investor-owned utilities build plants. Big users of electricity could buy on the wholesale market.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Consumer groups fear that even partial deregulation and free-market pricing can shift a disproportionate amount of costs from wholesale buyers to residential and small-business customers.</p>

WellPoint Sale Moves Forward

June 29, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Shareholders approve the deal with Anthem. But it needs an OK from California regulators.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights sent letters Monday urging the the managed-health department and Garamendi to demand WellPoint return $1 billion in what the advocacy group described as "premium-funded reserves" to policyholders.</p>

Refinery snags may pump up gas prices

June 28, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Unplanned maintenance will slow production, oil firms say</h3><p class="source">The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA)</p> <p>The maintenance, taking place during the summer driving season, is "a tactic to reduce supply also used by electricity producers during California's energy crisis," according to a statement from the FTCR.</p>

Shell Oil Faces Crude Allegations

June 22, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>KERO Insider Says Shell Planned To Manipulate Prices</h3><p class="source">KERO - The Bakersfield Channel (Bakersfield, CA)</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights is hoping the Attorney General's Office will step in and mediate the sale of the Bakersfield refinery. So far, 23 offers have been made, but Shell officials said none of them were credible.</p>

Report of cutbacks in summertime gas false, Shell Oil says

June 22, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Jamie Court, President of FTCR, called the documents "incontrovertible evidence the company has once again misled California about its stated reasons for the shutdown of Shell's Bakersfield refinery."</p>

Group says Shell plots ‘peak’ repairs;

June 22, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Documents suggest company already planned summer refinery slowdown</h3><p class="source">The Orange County Register (California)</p> <p>Jamie Court, president of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, contends that the documents are very recent because they contain numbers marked "5/25/04 Actual."</p>

WHY ISN’T BIG OIL DRILLING MORE?

June 21, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Despite the recent runup in prices, the industry is slow to pick up the pace</h3><p class="source">Business Week</p> <p>With joint ventures dominating downstream operations such as refining and storage, the competition's inventories are no secret, critics charge. "You don't need a smoky back room. All you have to do is go to a computer," says Jamie Court, president of FTCR</p>

State could run refinery Shell intends to close

June 21, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Consumer activist Jamie Court sees a way to kill two birds with one stone: The state should buy the refinery and process its own fuel, saving jobs and money and possibly turning a profit by selling excess production to local governments.</p>