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Friday, December 1, 2023

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On World AIDS Day, New Mexico activists say more money is needed for prevention; ND farmers still navigate corporate land-ownership policy maze; Unpaid caregivers in ME receive limited financial grants.

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Secretary of State Antony Blinken urges Israel to protect civilians amid Gaza truce talks, New York Rep. George Santos defends himself as his expected expulsion looms and CDC director warns about respiratory illness as flu season begins.

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Congress has iced the Farm Bill, but farmer advocates argue some portions are urgent, the Hoosier State is reaping big rewards from wind and solar, and opponents react to a road through Alaska's Brooks Range, long a dream destination for hunters and anglers.

CA Public Utilities Commission Probes Gas Price Spike

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Wednesday, February 8, 2023   

Gas bills jumped by hundreds of dollars over the past few months for many Californians - and on Tuesday, the California Public Utilities Commission held a hearing to find out why.

Some of the reasons cited - high demand during cold weather, and the failure of utilities to store enough gas for the winter or hedge against problems with interstate pipelines.

Heidi Harmon, former mayor of San Luis Obispo, applauds Gov. Gavin Newsom's call for a federal investigation into possible market manipulation.

"Why did gas prices go up so much, in such a short period of time?" asked Harmon. "What's really going on there? And what is the remedy, and who needs to be held accountable?"

Prices are now coming down, but the CPUC said the price of natural gas on the West coast peaked in December - at eight times what people in the Southeastern U.S. were paying.

The agency voted to accelerate a tax credit for millions of Californians that will take $90 to $120 off their gas bills in March.

Dominic Frongillo, executive director and co-founder of the group Elected Officials to Protect America, said he is convinced that the best way to protect people's pocketbooks and the climate - is to transition away from oil and natural gas.

"The fossil fuel industry's volatility - and collusion, in many cases - is causing prices to spike," said Frongillo. "And the only way to end this is to accelerate our transition to 100% clean energy."

More than 440 California elected officials have signed an open letter to the governor, asking for a plan to phase out oil-and-gas production in the state.



Disclosure: Elected Officials to Protect America contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Energy Policy, Public Lands/Wilderness. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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