Wildfire Survivors, Consumer Groups, Insurers, Public Entities Oppose Limits on Survivors’ Rights At Hearings In CA Capitol On CEA SB 254 Report

Oil Permits Surge In First Q 2026 With Majority For Dangerous Extraction Techniques; Watchdogs Warn New State Drilling Law Unfair

Watchdog Warns of Continued Gasoline Price Spikes Without Promised Energy Commission Rules

Energy

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

At Your Convenience: How California Can Make Refunding Bottle Deposits As Easy As Buying Beverages In The First Place.

April 19, 2023 · Liza Tucker

After decades of consumer and media criticism of California’s failed bottle deposit return program, Governor Newsom and the California Legislature last year finally passed a substantive reform of the program.

Bill to Hold Oil Drillers Presumptively Liable For Harms in Drilling Safety Zones Garners Support of 130+ Group Coalition

April 18, 2023 · Jamie Court

New legislation gives people who have developed cancer, respiratory illnesses and birth defects the right to hold oil drillers liable for their illnesses if they live, work, or go to school within 3200 feet of oil drilling and if the company did not use the best technologies to mitigate risk.

Public Interest Groups Take On Newsom Administration Over Backtracking On Cleanup Of Radioactivity At Santa Susana Site, Case To Be Heard On Monday

April 13, 2023 · Liza Tucker

In an appeal before the Court of Appeal in Sacramento to be heard on Monday, the Newsom Administration will be challenged over positions that breach a longstanding agreement to require all radioactive waste from the Santa Susana Field Lab be disposed of at sites licensed and designed for such waste.

1st Q Oil Permits Within 3,200-Foot Setback Zone Total 62% Of All New Permits Approved In State Action Condemned By Advocates

April 12, 2023 · Liza Tucker

The total number of oil drilling permits approved since Governor Gavin Newsom he took office reached nearly 15,000 in the first quarter of 2023, FracTracker Alliance and Consumer Watchdog said today.

Why CA’s Oil Refiner Accountability Law Is A Big Deal

March 29, 2023 · Jamie Court

For more than two decades, Californians have been plagued by chronic gasoline price spikes and a much greater gap with US gasoline prices than is justified by added taxes and environmental costs.

Price Gouging Penalty and Oil Refiner Accountability Bill To Become Law

March 27, 2023 · Jamie Court

Legislation backed by Governor Newsom to create a new state watchdog with power to prevent price gouging at the gas pump cleared the California Assembly by a vote of 52 to 19 and is now awaiting the Governor’s signature.

CA Senate Passes Gasoline Price Gouging Penalty And Oil Refinery Transparency Bill, Goes to Assembly

March 23, 2023 · Jamie Court

Sacramento, CA — A landmark measure to rein in skyrocketing California gasoline prices has cleared the California Senate by a vote of 30 to 8. ...

Price gouging Penalty Passes First Hurdle; Consumer Watchdog Testifies In Assembly About Need for Penalty and Transparency Reforms, $590 Million Oil Exec Stock Grab

March 22, 2023 · Jamie Court

SBx1 2, the newly amended proposal for a price gouging penalty and oil refiner transparency, passed its first test in the California Senate Utilities, Energy and Commerce Committee

Governor and Legislature Strike Deal on Price Gouging Penalty And Oil Refiner Transparency

March 20, 2023 · Jamie Court

Making California First State In America To Rein In Oil Refiner Greed and Profiteering Los Angeles, CA – Governor Newsom and California legislature leaders have reached...

Executives And Insiders At CA Big 5 Refiners Cashed Out $590 Million In Company Stock During 2022 In Wartime Profiteering

March 15, 2023 · Liza Tucker

Top executives and insiders at California’s big five oil refiners cashed out $590 million in stock in 2022, according to a review of filings with Securities Exchange Commission by the nonprofit Consumer Watchdog.

More Transparency For California Gas Markets

March 13, 2023 · Jamie Court

This morning the Los Angeles Times published my commentary on why we need more transparency in California’s gas markets. Let’s hope the powers that be...

Misnomers In Legislative Debate Over Price Gouging Penalty

March 2, 2023 · Jamie Court

When the California Senate Energy Committee took on the price gouging penalty for the first time recently, economists with a track record working for the oil industry tried to...