Consumer Watchdog

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Consumer Watchdog

Energy

Energy and utility watchdog coverage — gas prices, oil-industry profits, utility rates, and clean-energy accountability.
FTC Will Review Shell Oil’s Plan to Close Refinery;

FTC Will Review Shell Oil’s Plan to Close Refinery;

<h3>Some antitrust experts wonder whether the Bakersfield plant is in the agency's jurisdiction.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Jamie Court, president of Santa Monica-based FTCR, recently urged the attorney general to redouble his efforts on the case, citing Shell documents that show the Bakersfield refinery is profitable and running with higher profit margins than any of the comp</p>
Refinery closure angers watchdog

Refinery closure angers watchdog

<p class="source">The Californian (Salinas, CA)</p> <p>"This is a national example of how refiners cheat rather than compete in the restriction of supply by artificial means," said Jamie Court, president of the Santa Monica-based watchdog group FTCR, who also said it obtained the documents from company source</p>
Opponents gear up against Shell Oil;

Opponents gear up against Shell Oil;

<h3>Consumer group asks Lockyer to halt plan to close refinery</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>"Only an oil company that wants to short the market and artificially drive up the price of gasoline would demolish a highly profitable refinery rather than sell it," said Jamie Court, president of FTCR, which is based in Santa Monica.</p>
Consumer watchdog questions refinery shutdown

Consumer watchdog questions refinery shutdown

<p class="source">The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA)</p> <p>"This is a really major fraud on the public to close a refinery that creates 2 percent of the gas in the state," said Jamie Court, president of FTCR. "This evidence should also spur a national moratorium on all further domestic refinery closures."</p>
Plan to Shut Refinery Draws More Questions;

Plan to Shut Refinery Draws More Questions;

<h3>Critics say Shell Oil's decision to close its Bakersfield facility is an attempt to boost profit.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>State Senator Joe Dunn suggested that idling the Shell Bakersfield refinery could be part of a "deliberate strategy" to dictate gasoline pricing in California. Jamie Court, president of FTCR has said the organization will sue to block the closure if CA</p>
Consumer group questions Shell’s decision to close refinery

Consumer group questions Shell’s decision to close refinery

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>A consumer group asked Attorney General Bill Lockyer on Tuesday to investigate whether Shell Oil Products has broken unfair competition laws by planning to close a Bakersfield gasoline refinery while California's gas prices remain high.</p>
Governor’s evolving rules on donors

Governor’s evolving rules on donors

<h3>SOME OK, OTHERS NOT: SCHWARZENEGGER INSISTS HE CAN'T BE BOUGHT</h3><p class="source">The San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>In the eight months since he declared his candidacy on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," Schwarzenegger has raised a record-breaking $27 million for himself and his political causes, with nearly one-third of the money coming from</p>
COMMERCIAL BREAK:

COMMERCIAL BREAK:

<h3>A COMPANY PROFITS FROM TAKING KIDS ON FIELD TRIPS TO RETAIL OUTLETS. BUT WHAT ARE THEY LEARNING?</h3><p class="source">The Boston Globe</p> <p>Coming to a classroom near you: brand-name field trips. A Chicago-based company is putting a new twist on the traditional class outing by offering schools free visits to such places as a Shaw's supermarket, a Sports Authority outlet, or a Petco store.</p>