Saturday Mid-Day Update: Historic Fires Cover the West
UPDATE9/12/2020 -- 12noon Wildfires are burning across the West, but cooler weather may be offering some hope in the coming days. Also, just announced, President Trump will visit Sacramento on Monday (9/14) for a briefing on the California wildfires. According the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), the combined firefighting force across the West is more than 29,000 currently on the front lines of these fires. Across the West, thousands of homes and other structures have been lost and regrettably, 26 lives so far. NIFC also reported that evacuations are active in 6 States across the West due to the massive [...]
Newsom Directs State Agencies to Bridge Digital Gaps for Distance Learning
Governor Gavin Newsom announced today that California educational agencies will each receive a portion of $5.3 billion to mitigate losses and provide distance learning support to millions of students across the state. The Governor also signed an executive order charging state agencies with improving and expanding the state's broadband infrastructure to provide high-speed internet access to all Californians.
PG&E Names 11 New Board Members as Part of Bankruptcy Agreements
As a condition of the Chapter 11 process, PG&E announced the selection of a new board of directors to who will be officially appointed once the utility emerges from bankruptcy.
Consumer Watchdog: ‘No More Oil Wells!’
On May 20, Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit organization that works on behalf of taxpayers and consumers, transmitted a letter to Governor Newsom requesting he issue an order that no new oil wells be approved without full bonding for their clean-up, as well as a requirement to plug a certain number of idle wells in exchange for a new permit.
Bankruptcy Court Approves PG&E Settlement, Dismisses Last Minute Objections Regarding COVID-19
On April 7, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali rejected an attempt by wildfire victims' attorneys to notify clients that their $13.5 billion settlement with PG&E could be devalued by a stock market impacted by COVID-19.
Energy Consumption Continues to Drop During Week 2 of COVID-19 Shutdown
California is one of the U.S. states whose electricity demand has been hit the hardest due to stay-at-home orders.
Energy Consumption Down as COVID-19 Shutdown Continues
The California ISO (CAISO) reported on March 25 that energy demand has fallen as a result of Governor Newsom's Executive Orders (12 Orders to date) requiring Californians to stay at home to slow the spread of COVID-19.
PG&E Reaches Deal with Governor Newsom to Emerge from Bankruptcy
On Friday, March, 20, PG&E announced it had reached a deal with California Governor Gavin Newsom and would emerge from its Chapter 11 case before the State's June 30 deadline.
Commission Proposes a Path for Utility Takeover
While PG&E is continuing on its path to emerge from bankruptcy, California Public Utilities Commission (Commission) President Marybel Batjer outlined a proposed process on February 18 as to how the State could revoke the utility’s operating license if the utility again commits serious safety violations without adequately addressing them.
LAO Urges Legislators to Reject Newsom’s Climate Loan Proposal
In a report released on February 13, the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), a nonpartisan advisory agency for the state legislature, said the governor's Climate Catalyst Loan Fund would be problematic and questioned the State’s ability to even identify the right projects to qualify.
Newsom Says Takeover of Utility Still in Play
At the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) conference on January 29, 2020, Governor Newsom again reiterated his threat for a State takeover of PG&E if the bankrupt utility falls short in the changes he wants.
PG&E Says Deal is Close with Elliot and PIMCO
PG&E said this week that they held discussions with the creditors committee ahead of a bankruptcy court hearing on Tuesday.
Creditors Group Offers All-Cash Deal in New Proposal to PG&E Victims
In an attempt to salvage their bid to take control of PG&E, a group of creditors led by Elliott Management Corporation (Elliott) and Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO) said late Friday that they would commit to addressing Governor Newsom’s concerns with PG&E, including the formation of a new board and making provisions for the option of a state takeover.
Newsom Reaffirms Opposition to PG&E Plan; Court Ignores Governor’s Views
Following his letter from last week, Governor Newsom on Monday submitted a filing before U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Dennis Montali in which he said that PG&E’s reorganization ignored his concerns and offered a restructuring plan that is, “more about creating an illusion of momentum,” than a true reorganization plan.
Newsom Rejects $13.5 Billion Wildfire Settlement
In a surprise move late Friday, Governor Newsom rejected PG&E’s plan to pay Northern California wildfire victims and exit bankruptcy.
Newsom Meets with Mayors to Explore Turning PG&E into a Co-Op
Governor Newsom reiterated this week that he wants to speed up the PG&E bankruptcy case so the company can be restructured in time for next year's wildfire season.
New Governor, but Old Problems Shape 2019
Three days after being inaugurated as the 40th Governor of the State of California, Gavin Newsom offered his first budget, which at $209 billion, is $8 billion more than former Governor Brown’s last budget.
Governor Newsom Critical of PG&E and Feeling Pressure, Calls on Warren Buffet to Take Over
Under increasing pressure, Governor Newsom suggested Saturday that Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway should make a takeover bid for PG&E.
Governor/PG&E: While Critical of PG&E, Newsom Didn’t Say ‘No’ to Political Contributions
While Governor Newsom has been critical of PG&E, he has remained quiet about how much he took from them in political contributions.
Governor Newsom Tells IOUs to ‘Try Harder’ on the Fires
Governor Newsom has issued another scathing rebuke to the investor-owned utilities (IOUs) over the Public Safety Power Shutoffs.