Environment

Big Oil’s Hush Money

Submitted by Liza Tucker on Thu, 11/30/2017 - 16:33

No matter how you look at it, from a sham trading system to "cut" climate-warming emissions to consumers gouged at the pump, Big Oil has us over a barrel by paying the state and politicians what amounts to hush money to stay off its back.
 

Scrapping Of Ventura Natural Gas Plant Is A Win For Consumers

Submitted by Liza Tucker on Tue, 10/17/2017 - 17:49

Consumers just scored a victory with NRG's announcement that it is pulling the plug on a natural gas power plant in Ventura.

The Houston utility had contracted with Southern California Edison (SCE) to build the hotly contested Puente plant in Oxnard. Ratepayers would have shouldered the $300 million price tag.

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The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly From Brown's Pen

Submitted by Liza Tucker on Tue, 10/17/2017 - 12:46

Consumers looking for bold action this year on laws protecting their wallets from rapacious drug companies, their privacy from the prying eyes of telecom companies, and their environment from the degradation of the oil and gas industry, didn't get any. But they did get some legislation that helps them take banks to court for fraud and to follow the money behind political ads.

The Ugly:

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Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Just Sold Los Angeles Down The Aqueduct

Submitted by Liza Tucker on Wed, 10/11/2017 - 13:48

Mayor Eric Garcetti just sold out Los Angeles by pushing through the Delta Tunnels. Two of his five appointees to the Metropolitan Water District (MWD), the giant water wholesaler for the region, voted yes on diverting water from the Sacramento River under the San Francisco Bay Delta to the South, helping to ensure an overwhelming majority vote. 

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Seriously, Will Governor Sign A Bill Benefitting Just One Developer And His Sister?

Submitted by Liza Tucker on Mon, 10/09/2017 - 14:11

Every day, we have been scanning Governor Jerry Brown’s legislative updates. So far, he hasn’t signed SB 634, a bill with the innocuous, sleepy-sounding name of “Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency.” 

The bill is anything but innocuous and sleepy. 

We thought the days of bills benefitting just one company were over. They aren’t, and this one benefits not just developer Five Point Holdings, but Kathleen Brown, Jerry’s little sister.

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California Energy Commission Favors Scrapping Puente NatGas Power Plant (But Will It Really?)

Submitted by Liza Tucker on Mon, 10/09/2017 - 09:06

The California Energy Commission (CEC) just took the unprecedented step of recommending that the $300-million Puente natural gas power plant slated for Ventura County be mothballed. Power plant builder NRG is under contract to Southern California Edison to build the plant in Oxnard.

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