Energy

Money Flows, Developer Prevails: An L.A. City Hall Exposé That Begs An Official Investigation

October 31, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Over and over and over again, when elected officials are asked about conflicts of interest created by campaign donations, they fall back on the same answer.</p> <p>No need to worry. They can’t be influenced, because they make decisions based on conviction, not cash.</p> <p>We are free to believe this.</p> <p>We are also free to believe there is no climate change, and that the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/football/los-angeles-rams-ORSPT000059-topic.html" id="ORSPT000059" title="Los Angeles Rams">Rams</a> are going to win the Super Bowl.</p>

An Incomplete State Corruption Probe

October 31, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<div> <p>Even in the midst of the heated presidential campaign, two news stories about alleged corruption in California government managed to draw significant headlines and public attention.</p>

PG&E Proposes 8-Year Rate Increase To Cover Diablo Canyon Closure

October 26, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<div> <p>SAN FRANCISCO >> PG&E customers will see an increase in their electricity bills if state regulators approve rate increases linked to the proposed closure of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant.</p> <p>The average bill for a typical residential customer using 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month would rise 1.6 percent, according to PG&E spokesman Blair Jones. That means the average electricity bill would increase from $96.94 to $98.48 — a monthly jump of $1.54.</p>

Brown Signs Bills To Reform CPUC, Urges Administrative Fixes Too

September 29, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Gov. <a href="http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/topic/politics-government/jerry-brown-PEPLT007547-topic.html" id="PEPLT007547" title="Jerry Brown">Jerry Brown</a> signed five bills Thursday aimed at reform for the California Public Utilities Commission and called on the agency to take additional steps to impose changes of its own.</p>

Oil Refinery Merger in California Underscores Risks of Petro-Economy Nationwide

September 28, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>In a region known for being among the worst nationally for its air quality, plans are marching briskly forward on a proposed integration project that will combine operations at two sprawling oil refineries near Southern California's Long Beach area, expanding it into the single largest oil refinery by far on the nation's West Coast.</p>

PUC Reforms Still Needed After PG&E Blast In San Bruno, Lawmakers Say

September 28, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>California lawmakers say they will push for extensive reforms — including a possible amendment to the state Constitution — after efforts to revamp the troubled agency failed in the recently concluded legislative session.</p>

Agency Probes Whether California Dem Party Funneled Illicit Oil Donations To Governor

September 26, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>California’s campaign finance watchdog agency is looking into allegations the state’s Democratic Party funneled millions of dollars from oil and energy companies to high-profile politicians, including Gov. Jerry Brown’s 2014 reelection campaign.</p> <p>“It was a laundry machine for dirty energy contributions to the Brown administration, a slush fund of sorts, hiding big oil, utility and other dirty energy dollars in close proximity to officials’ actions,” said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, the group that brought the complaint. </p>

FPPC Launches Probe Into CA Democratic Party in Response To Consumer Watchdog Report

September 25, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<div style="text-align: justify;">The California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) announced on September 23 that it has opened an investigation into the California Democratic Party in response to a report by a prominent consumer group claiming that the party acted as a “laundry machine” to funnel donations from oil, energy and utility companies to Brown’s 2014 election campaign.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>

Political Watchdog Won’t Investigate Brown Over ‘Dirty Hands’ Report

September 24, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The California Fair Political Practices Commission will investigate donations made to the California Democratic Party by privately owned utilities and other energy interests.</p> <p>The action was prompted by an <a href="http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/sdut-brown-consumer-watchdog-2016aug11-story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">August report</a> from the Santa Monica advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, which focused on the political influence of companies that rely on fossil fuels.</p>

Political Watchdog Launches Probe Into California Democratic Party Over Jerry Brown Donations

September 23, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The state’s political ethics commission is launching an investigation into the California Democratic Party after an advocacy group alleged the party acted as a middle man to funnel donations from oil and energy companies to Gov. Jerry Brown’s 2014 re-election campaign.</p>

FPPC Probes State Democratic Party For Donations To Jerry Brown

September 23, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>SACRAMENTO — The state’s Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating allegations that the California Democratic Party funneled more than $4 million in political donations from oil and energy companies into the most recent gubernatorial campaigns of Gov. Jerry Brown.</p>

Allegations That Oil Money Was Funneled To Gov. Jerry Brown’s Campaign Will Be Investigated By State Watchdog

September 23, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="widget widget-text" data-widget-id="57114"> <p>The state’s campaign finance watchdog agency will investigate allegations that the California Democratic Party improperly funneled contributions from the oil and energy industry to the 2014 reelection campaign of Gov. Jerry Brown, officials said Friday.</p>