Consumer Watchdog

Florida and California Consider Changes That Could 'Decimate The Rooftop Solar Market,' Experts Say

By Ben Adler, YAHOO NEWS

February 2, 2022

https://www.yahoo.com/news/florida-and-california-consider-changes-that…

California and Florida are considering revoking a policy that has encouraged homeowners to install rooftop solar panels — causing fear among solar panel owners and installers, and creating divisions in the environmental community.

KTXL FOX TV-40 Sacramento, CA: Watchdog Groups Want State Leaders Held Responsible On EDD Fraud

EDD

Over a year ago Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed a new director to the EDD. For Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, the change hasn’t been enough. “It’s shocking,” Court told FOX40. “We’ve had fraud, we’ve had payments gone amiss, we have a department with a computer system that’s ancient, and we’ve had privacy problems. And the problems just keep going on and on.” 

Oil Setback

Consumer Watchdog Praises Governor Oil Setback Rule, Says More Needs To Be Done To Phase Out Oil Drilling In California

1 year ago By Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA -- Consumer Watchdog today called Governor Newsom’s draft rule creating a first-of-its-kind 3200-foot setback between oil wells and communities a “historic moment for California and the nation, but one that needs to followed with immediate denial of oil and gas permits as part of a full phase out plan for drilling in this state no later than 2030.”

Oil Spill Slider

CA Dangerously Close To Approving 10,000 Oil Drilling Permits since Newsom Assumed Office; Groups Demand Gov. Deliver On Putting Oil Drilling Into Rear View Mirror

1 year ago By Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA — Governor Newsom’s oil regulators have approved 9,728 oil drilling permits since he assumed office in 2019, according to a new analysis of permits approved through October 1, 2021and posted at www.NewsomWellWatch.org by Consumer Watchdog and FracTracker Alliance.  The groups said Newsom should immediately cease approval of more oil permits to avoid hitting the 10,000 mark.

California’s Massive Offshore Oil Spill: What We Know

By Heather Richards, E&E NEWS ENERGY WIRE

October 5, 2021

https://www.eenews.net/articles/californias-massive-offshore-oil-spill-…

Officials are looking into whether a ship anchor ruptured a pipeline off the coast of California, causing the major bleed of crude oil this weekend that’s ignited calls to end the Golden State’s already declining offshore oil industry.

Offshore Oil Rig

Governor Newsom Must End Oil Permits In State Waters And Order 2,500-Foot Barrier Between Communities And Oil Drilling, Consumer Watchdog And FracTracker Alliance Say

1 year ago By Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA — While an oil spill in federal waters damages Southern California beaches, wildlife and habitat, oil regulators under Gov. Gavin Newsom have issued 138 oil permits for operations in state waters since he assumed office and are 278 days late in delivering Newsom a rule setting a barrier between oil operations and vulnerable communities, Consumer Watchdog and FracTracker Alliance said today.
 

Activists Call For California To Take Action After Oil Spill

By Bridgette Bjolo and Jose Fabian, FOX TV-40 Sacramento, CA

October 4, 2021

https://fox40.com/news/california-connection/activists-call-for-califor…

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KTXL) — Environmentalists are sounding the alarm after a massive oil spill occurred off the coast of Orange County. 

Activists said the incident could have been prevented if proper oil drilling regulations had been in place. 

Oil Drilling

Newsom Administration Doubles New Oil And Gas Production Well Permits, Misses Deadline for Drilling Setback Rule

2 years ago By Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA — California oil regulators more than doubled the dispensing of permits in 2020 to drill new oil and gas production wells, issuing more than 1,700 in 2020, Consumer Watchdog and FracTracker Alliance reported today. 

At the same time, the Newsom Administration failed to meet its own New Year’s Eve deadline for a draft rule designating the safe distance for drilling from a community, giving itself until Spring.  Public interest groups who have pushed for a 2,500-foot setback are troubled by the delay. States such as Colorado have instituted setbacks of 2,000 feet.

Fracking Drilling

Newsom Administration Issues Six More Fracking Permits To Aera Energy Consumer Watchdog Says

2 years ago By Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA — The Newsom Administration issued six more fracking permits to Aera Energy late on Friday afternoon at a time of great risk to the environment and to the public health of affected communities also exposed to Covid 19, Consumer Watchdog said today.

The number of fracking permits issued this year—despite a nine-month moratorium imposed by Newsom that ended last April—now comes to 54 issued to Aera and Chevron. 

Uduak-Joe Ntuk

Two Advocacy Groups Challenge California Oil Regulator To Correct The Record On True Oil Drilling Permit Numbers

2 years ago By Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Watchdog and the FracTracker Alliance challenged the state’s Oil and Gas Supervisor Uduak-Joe Ntuk “to be honest with the public about the data” on oil drilling in the state. They stated his refusal to acknowledge data published by the Department of Conservation’s Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) “sullies CalGEM and reflects poorly on an Administration that claims desperately to want to stem the cruel tide of climate change.”

KGO ABC TV-7 SF, CA: Climate Advocates Challenge Gov. Newsom's Record On Standing Up To Fossil Fuel Industry

Oil Drlling

September 15, 2020

https://abc7news.com/gavin-newsom-climate-change-wade-crowfoot-fossil-f…

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Whether in conversation with the president or with the dramatic ruins of a wildfire as his backdrop, Governor Gavin Newsom has been sounding the alarm on climate change, positioning himself on the national stage as a climate leader.

Fracking Drilling

Permits To Drill New Oil And Gas Wells Zoom Up 190% In The First Six Months Of 2020 Under Gov. Newsom Worrisome Trend

2 years ago By Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA — As COVID-19 cases shattered California daily records in the second quarter of 2020, oil regulators under Gov. Newsom also shattered records for dispensing new oil and gas production well drilling permits, Consumer Watchdog and FracTracker Alliance said today.

WELL, WELL, WELL

By Colby Bermel, POLITICO PRO CALIFORNIA

September 2, 2020

WELL, WELL, WELL: New oil and gas production drilling permit approvals are up 190 percent in the first half of 2020 compared to the same period last year, according to a Consumer Watchdog and FracTracker Alliance report provided to POLITICO.

Recycling

Consumer Watchdog Warns Newsom Continued Emergency Exemption Of Retailers From Recycling Will Eviscerate Bottle Deposit System

2 years ago By Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA— The nonprofit Consumer Watchdog called on Governor Gavin Newsom not to give retailers another exemption from their duty to refund bottle and can deposits, warning it could decimate the fragile deposit system. 

CalGEM slider

CalGEM Regulators Divest Oil Stocks In Wake Of Consumer Watchdog Conflicts Probe

2 years ago By Liza Tucker

 Los Angeles, CA — Oil and gas regulators at the California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) no longer hold oil stocks or other interests in the sector that they regulate in a radical departure from past practices, Consumer Watchdog said today.

A new conflict of interest policy at the division’s parent agency, the Department of Conservation (DOC), now prohibits such investments without explicit written approval by DOC’s director.

California's Department of Conservation Rolls Out New Ethics Policy After Years Of Complaints

By Mark Olaide, PALM SPRINGS DESERT SUN

July 15, 2020

https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2020/07/15/new-ethics-…

The California Department of Conservation, which has for years weathered accusations of a cozy relationship with the oil industry, has quietly introduced a new ethics policy that has drawn praise from advocates of good governance.

Recycling

CA Governor Exempts Supermarkets From Bottle Deposit Refunds For Another 60 Days In Loss For Consumers And The Environment, Says Consumer Watchdog

2 years ago By Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA — Governor Gavin Newsom gave supermarkets and other dealers of beverages carrying a five or ten cent deposit another 60-day reprieve on refunding deposits, putting greater pressure on too few redemption centers to serve millions of Californians. California now joins Iowa’s Republican Governor as the only states letting the retailers off the hook for redeeming bottles.

Group Seeks To Toughen California Bonding For O&G

By Staff Writers, KALLANISH ENERGY

May 26, 2020

https://www.kallanishenergy.com/2020/05/26/group-seeks-to-toughen-calif…

A consumer group wants California Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign an executive order to block oil companies from getting state approval for new wells without full bonding for their cleanup, Kallanish Energy reports.

That request was made last week by Consumer Watchdog.

Socialism For The Oil Companies: YOU End Up Paying Cleanup Costs On “Orphan Wells”

By Dan Bacher, RED GREEN & BLUE

May 21, 2020

http://redgreenandblue.org/2020/05/21/socialism-oil-companies-end-payin…

Consumer Watchdog called upon Governor Gavin Newsom to prevent oil companies from receiving approvals for new oil wells without first requiring full bonding for their clean-ups, according to a press release from the group today.

Consumer Group Urges Newsom: No New Wells Without Oil Co. Bonding For Permits

By Dan Bacher, INDYBAY MEDIA SF

May 20, 2020

https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2020/05/20/18833152.php

“Given the state’s grave deficit, it’s imperative that no new wells be approved without full bonding for their clean-up and a requirement to plug a certain number of idle wells in exchange for a new permit,” the letter said.

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