Energy

Measure to hike gas tax wins early approval; State GOP lawmakers and the governor clash as the transit and road repair bill heads to Senate floor.

April 4, 2017  ·  Evan Thomas King

<p>Faced with a personal appeal by Gov. Jerry Brown, a state Senate panel on Monday gave the first approval to a measure that would raise gas taxes and vehicle fees by $52 billion during the next decade for road and bridge repairs.</p>

L.A. County Study Decries State Claims For Need Of Aliso Canyon Storage Plant

March 31, 2017  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A scathing Los Angeles County study has concluded that the troubled Aliso Canyon natural gas facility isn’t needed to ensure reliability of electricity and gas service in the region this summer or the coming winter.</p> <p>That review sharply contrasts with the dire warnings issued last summer by state regulators, who stirred up fears of blackouts and the possibility of snuffed-out pilot lights come winter without the use of Aliso Canyon.</p>

How Green Is Jerry Brown?

February 15, 2017  ·  Liza Tucker

This review fact-checks the perception of Jerry Brown as an environmentalist against his actions since taking office as Governor in 2011 to answer the question:...

Californians are paying billions for power they don’t need

February 8, 2017  ·  Evan Thomas King

<p style="font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-kerning: none">The bucolic orchards of Sutter County north of Sacramento had never seen anything like it: a visiting governor and a media swarm — all to christen the first major natural gas power plant in California in more than a decade.</span></p>

Will Aliso Canyon open again? Feinstein backs bill to keep it closed for now

February 8, 2017  ·  Evan Thomas King

<p style="font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-kerning: none">California Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Monday announced her support for a state bill that would stop the reopening of the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility until the root cause of a massive leak that occurred there is determined.</span></p>

Jerry Brown Not So Green: CA Ratepayers Overpaid Billions For Dirty Energy

February 7, 2017  ·  Jamie Court

Californians are paying billions of dollars too much for electric plants we don’t need. That’s the finding of a major Los Angeles Times investigation and...

As Trump Revives Keystone XL Pipeline, Report Shows it Will Increase Gas Prices

January 26, 2017  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Just days after being sworn as 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump, in a series of executive orders, is planning <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/01/24/trump-gives-green-light-to-dakota-access-keystone-xl-oil-pipelines/?utm_term=.d1cbde8e48fa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to revive the Dakota and Keystone XL pipelines</a>.</p> <p>Both projects were abandoned by Barack Obama a few weeks before the end of his second term, to calm the protests and to maintain environmental sustainability.</p>

Note To Prez: Keystone XL Will Raise Gas Prices, Not Create US Jobs

January 24, 2017  ·  Jamie Court

The populist president just revived what will be a bad economic deal for Midwest gas prices and American jobs, the Keystone XL pipeline. My nonprofit...

Southern California Gas Taps Aliso Canyon Amid Conservation Warnings

January 24, 2017  ·  Evan Thomas King

<p><strong><span style="font-size: 12px;">Withdrawal by Southern California Gas spurs claims of supply manipulation.</span></strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Southern California Gas Co. tapped the troubled Aliso Canyon natural gas storage field Tuesday after issuing an alert about potential supply shortages because of increased consumer demand.</p>

Two New Commissioners For The CPUC

December 30, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Embattled, embroiled and entangled, the <a href="http://www.cpuc.ca.gov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)</a> is about to get a significant change at the top.</p> <p>Two of its five commissioners are stepping down after serving their respective six-year terms and <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=19651" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gov. Jerry Brown appointed their replacements</a> on Wednesday.</p>

Brown Fill Vacancies At Tarnished PUC With Key Aides

December 29, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>San Francisco, CA -- Gov. Jerry Brown has named two of his key aides to fill vacancies at the scandal-scarred state Public Utilities Commission, the governor's office said Wednesday.</p> <p><br /> Brown appointed Martha Guzman Aceves and Clifford Rechtschaffen to the powerful state commission. They will replace departing commissioners Michael Florio and Catherine Sandoval, whose six-year terms expire on Jan. 1.</p>

Obama Blows Through Stop Signs From Trump On Auto Regs

December 26, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p><i>Washington</i> — The Obama administration is barreling ahead with a number of regulations that affect automakers in its final days, despite President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to drastically reduce the burden of federal rules on U.S. businesses.</p> <p>Jeff Davis, senior fellow for the independent Eno Center for Transportation think tank, said transportation officials in the Obama administration may be trying to “flood the zone” to make it difficult for Trump to repeal its proposed rules after he takes office.</p>