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2 weeks ago | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Thomas D. Elias |SoCal Gas |politics. Non-partisan
By Thomas Elias, ENTERPRISE RECORDAcademics have known for many years the potential for conflicts of interest when they conduct studies or write reports on products or companies for which they have consulted. That’s why they almost always disclose conflicts.
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1 month ago | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Rob Nikolewski |SoCal Gas
By Rob Nikolewski, MERCURY NEWS Gov. Gavin Newsom seems to be taking a friendlier tone regarding the petroleum industry, as two refineries recently announced they would close down operations in California. Earlier this week, Newsom sent a letter to California Energy Commission vice chair Siva Gunda, directing Gunda to “redouble the State’s efforts to work closely with refiners” to help ensure Californians have access to transportation fuels such as gasoline in the short and long term.
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1 month ago | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Justin Kloczko |SoCal Gas
Los Angeles, CA—A new investigative report by Consumer Watchdog explains the sudden reversal by electric worker and corporate lobbyist Scott Wetch to support a controversial energy bill SB 540 (Becker), known as “Pathways,” which cedes control over California environmental laws to Trump.
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2 months ago | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Thomas D. Elias |SoCal Gas
By Thomas Elias, ENTERPRISE RECORDIf California wants power company executives from coal-happy states like Wyoming and Utah to run energy policy in this state, then the state Senate should pass a proposed law called SB 540, sponsored by Silicon Valley Democrat Josh Becker. Similarly, if California wants its most important environmental decisions to be made by a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) controlled by President Trump, pass this bill.
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Feb 5, 2025 | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Blanca Begert |SoCal Gas |politics. Non-partisan
By Blanca Begert, POLITICOhttps://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2025/02/04/why-tesla-needs-a-trump-lifeline-00202519?nname=california-climate&nid=00000189-315c-d8dd-a1ed-797dc9f10000&nrid=9df49bfd-52ce-419e-b9c2-dba48e0990e3OIL COUNT: The U.S. may have had a record high year for oil drilling, but in California new oil and gas well permits hover near record lows.
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Feb 5, 2025 | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Liza Tucker |SoCal Gas
Los Angeles, CA—While approvals for new oil well drilling permits in California dwindled to 73 in 2024–from 2,664 in 2019 when Governor Newsom took office, 2024 ended with oil regulators dropping the ball on requiring adequate amounts of bonding to protect taxpayers from plugging and cleanup in a massive oil acquisition deal, Consumer Watchdog and FracTracker Alliance said today. Instead, regulators halved the bonding requirement for the California Resources Corp.
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Dec 6, 2024 | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Wes Venteicher |SoCal Gas
By Wes Venteicher, POLITICOhttps://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2024/12/05/a-christmas-gift-for-california-oil-refiners-00192953?nname=california-climate&nid=00000189-315c-d8dd-a1ed-797dc9f10000&nrid=0000014f-890a-d780-a9ef-9d7a82c30000&nlid=2745178CHECK BACK IN SPRING: Oil refiners’ profits are safe, at least for now, from the California Energy Commission.
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Dec 2, 2024 | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Wes Venteicher |SoCal Gas
By Wes Venteicher, POLITICOhttps://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2024/11/27/lawmakers-want-to-have-their-thanksgiving-pie-and-eat-it-too-00192002SENTINEL STRIKES BACK: The operator of the largest urban oil field in California is suing the state over Assemblymember Isaac Bryan’s recent bill to impose stiff fines on low-production wells in its 1,000-acre Inglewood Oil Field.
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Nov 26, 2024 | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Dan Bacher |SoCal Gas
By Dan Bacher, DAILY KOShttps://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/11/25/2288709/-New-Report-on-Big-Oil-s-Front-Groups-in-California-Exposes-A-Decade-of-DeceptionThe Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), the most powerful corporate lobbying group in California, has spent tens of millions of dollars creating and funding faux “grassroots” organizations”— “Astroturf” groups — according to a new report by the Last Chance Alliance.
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Oct 21, 2024 | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Russ Mitchell |SoCal Gas
By Russ Mitchell, LOS ANGELES TIMEShttps://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-10-18/another-refinery-shuts-down-in-california-what-happens-to-gas-pricesCalifornia’s attempt to manage a smooth transition away from gasoline just got roughed up with this week’s decision by Phillips 66 to shutter its refinery in Wilmington next year, wiping out more than 8% of the state’s crude oil processing capacity.
