SoCalGas trying to prevent regulators from learning more about its anti-climate political tactics

by Emily Atkin, Heated

Highlights

SoCalGas recently failed to stop building electrification efforts in the coastal city of San Luis Obispo by creating a group to advocate against it, threatening to hold a non-COVID 19 compliant rally if the law passes, and are suspected to have pushed a story saying building electrification was racially discriminatory
Over 120 city and county governments have been persuaded by SoCalGas to adopt “balanced energy solutions,” which discourage all-electric efforts in favor of natural gas
The Public Advocates Office of the California Public Utilities Commission company may be using customer money to fund their anti-electrification advocacy
SoCalGas refuses to comply with a watchdog subpoena and spent months fighting the regulator’s investigation
The company has also misused ratepayer money for anti-climate political activities by spending $28 million for “balanced energy” programs that were categorized as operations and maintenance, a category funded by ratepayers
A 2019 report from Brown University investigated ten large investor-owned utilities and found they were “historically central to the climate change countermovement,” meaning they often worked towards undermining climate action based on science for the past few decades

Fossil fuel divestment and the transition to 100% clean energy is critical to achieving The Climate Center’s goals under the Climate-Safe California Platform.

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Nina Turner

Nina is a graduate of the Energy Management and Design program at Sonoma State University. She has experience in non-profits that specialize in sustainability and volunteerism. Nina is currently the Energy Program Coordinator and produces the bi-weekly Clean Power Exchange newsletter.