Energy

2 PUC Reform Bills Die, Emails Will Stary Secret

September 1, 2016 · Mark Reback

<h2>Governor's office notes that two other PUC measures passed</h2> Advocates hoping for reform at the California Public Utilities Commission were disappointed twice this week, as an overhaul bill died in the legislature and a court ruling allowed certain emails regarding the agency’s response to the San Onofre failure to remain secret. Lawmakers did pass two bills that imposed changes on the commission, which for two years has been under criminal investigation for backchannel dealings with utility executives.

SoCal Gas Presses To Reopen Gas Storage Field, Raising Specter Of Hot Water Shortages

August 29, 2016 · Mark Reback

<a href="http://www.scpr.org/news/2016/08/26/63994/socal-gas-presses-to-reopen-gas-storage-field-rais/">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment</a>. The risk that Los Angeles neighborhoods could have power outages due to a shortage of gas storage will be lower this winter than it was over the summer, state energy officials said Friday.

Jerry Brownâ€™s Dirty Hands Exposed In Big Energy Deal, Says Consumer Advocate

August 24, 2016 · Mark Reback

A new report by Consumer Watchdog digs into Governor Jerry Brown’s questionable ties to big energy companies. Occidental, Chevron and NRG, all with business before the state, donated $9.8 million to Brown’s various campaigns, causes and initiatives and to the California Democratic Party since he ran for governor.

KGO 810AM – Pat Thurston Hosts Liza Tucker To Discuss “Brown’s Dirty Hands” Report

August 24, 2016 · Mark Reback

<a href="http://www.kgoradio.com/2016/08/24/pat-thurston-liza-tucker/">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment</a>. Liza Tucker Consumer Advocate with Consumer Watchdog discusses their new report that highlights the Brown administration’s coziness with energy companies. <div class="entry-content" itemprop="text"> <a href="http://www.capitolwatchdog.org/article/browns-dirty-hands">Read more: Brown’s Dirty Hands</a>

California Environmentalists Say Gov. Jerry Brown Has â€œDirty Handsâ€

August 23, 2016 · Mark Reback

FEATURING LIZA TUCKER – The state of California is considered a leader in the fight against climate change. Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown has positioned himself as a “climate change warrior,” signing bills to promote renewable energy. But, a new report by the group Consumer Watchdog has found a disturbing link between concessions to energy companies, and donations from those companies to Brown’s reelection campaign and some of his favorite charities.

Western States Petroleum Association Continues To Top CA Lobbying Expenses

August 16, 2016 · Mark Reback

The Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), the most powerful corporate lobbying group in Sacramento, continued to dominate the lobbying spending in Sacramento in the second quarter of 2016. "If you can count on anything, it’s WSPA (Western States Petroleum Association) throwing down some serious cash on lobbying," said Stop Fooling California (http://stopfoolingca.org) in their latest newsletter, the Crude Truth. "And this quarter was no exception."

The Mystery Behind Californiaâ€™s High Gas Prices

August 15, 2016 · Mark Reback

Gasoline is cheap in California compared to a year ago. But it's nowhere near as cheap as it could be. Californians currently spend 49 cents more per gallon than the national average, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. For most of the last year, that difference exceeded 60 cents. Several times last summer, it topped $1.

Consumer Watchdog Slams Jerry Brown Over Receiving $9.8 Million In Fossil Fuel Donations

August 15, 2016 · Mark Reback

In over 30 years of covering fish, water, conservation and environmental justice in California, this is one of the most significant and disturbing reports about regulatory capture and “play to pay" politics I have ever read. Consumer Watchdog, a Santa Monica-based consumer organization, on August 10 released an alarming report claiming that oil, gas and utilities gave $9.8 million to Governor Jerry Brown and his causes, often within days of winning big favors.

Report Blasts Brown Over Fossil-Fuel Donors

August 11, 2016 · Mark Reback

Governor's office says his environmental record makes advocacy group's claims 'cuckoo' <div class="story-body"> A Santa Monica consumer group is criticizing Gov. Jerry Brown for his ties to utilities and other companies reliant on fossil fuels, linking almost $10 million in contributions from 26 oil, gas and power companies to decisions by Brown administration officials that directly benefited the donors.

Report Finds Big Energy Companies Gave Big $ and Got Big Favors From Governor Brown With Dollars and Decisions Flowing In Close Proximity To Each Other

August 10, 2016 · Jamie Court

Consumer Watchdog today reported that twenty-six energy companies including the state’s three major investor-owned utilities, Occidental, Chevron, and NRG—all with business before the state

Consumer Watchdog Says Brown, California Dems Got $9.8M From Energy Companies For Favorable Legislation

August 10, 2016 · Mark Reback

<div> Twenty-six companies with business before the state donated $9.8 million to Gov. Jerry Brown and the California Democratic Party over the last eight years — and those donations were often made within days or weeks of winning favors. That’s the contention of “Brown’s Dirty Hands,” a report released Wednesday by the Santa Monica-based public interest group Consumer Watchdog.

California Gas Prices Draw Ire Of Consumer Advocates

August 9, 2016 · Mark Reback

An advocacy group on Thursday <a data-ajax="false" data-transition="none" href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/newsrelease/ca-oil-refiners-pump-profits-through-lowest-wholesale-gasoline-price-usa-and-highest-ret">blasted</a> profit reports from California's oil refiners, saying there's a huge discrepancy between wholesale and retail prices of gasoline.