All posts by Karlee Weinmann

Karlee Weinmann is a Research and Communications Manager for the Energy and Policy Institute. In her previous role at the City of Minneapolis, she focused on climate and land use policy and led development of nationally recognized ordinances that increase transparency of home energy costs. Karlee was also a researcher for the Energy Democracy Initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and, before that, a reporter covering Wall Street dealmaking for a legal newswire. She lives in Minneapolis.

Amid controversies, DTE Energy continues to spend big in Michigan and nearly every lawmaker accepts

93% of legislators have taken DTE Energy money during their careers

/ September 28, 2022

Utilities sent $2.4 million to anti-abortion state officials who sponsored and signed trigger laws

Oncor, Atmos, AEP, and CenterPoint are among biggest donors

/ August 24, 2022

Utility executive contributions surge in Minnesota state senate race

Out-of-state utility execs flood campaign in a district with a population of just 85,000

/ August 1, 2022

CenterPoint, Atmos sponsor Texas Republican Party convention with exclusionary agenda despite corporate diversity pledges

Texas GOP platform declares “homosexuality is an abnormal lifestyle choice,” and urges the repeal of the 1965 Voting Rights Act

/ June 24, 2022

Minnesota gas utilities criticized for making Uri crisis worse on customers

Regulators will decide whether to shift costs to utilities or require customers to pick up the full tab

/ June 13, 2022

Xcel Energy funding climate opposition in Minnesota

The utility's PAC has given $114,949 to Republican candidates, funds, and party units since 2017

/ May 9, 2022

CenterPoint boosts CEO pay to $37.8 million, blowing past other utilities

David Lesar’s hefty raise comes as CenterPoint customers face soaring utility bills

/ April 19, 2022

CenterPoint Using Free Vacations, Customer Cash to Sell Builders on Gas Appliances

CenterPoint asked regulators for $239,958 per year for gas water heater incentives

/ February 23, 2022

Xcel Ramps Up Municipal Spending in Hometown Mayoral Election

Utility executives and lobbyists gave thousands to Mayor Jacob Frey, who won his re-election

/ December 16, 2021

CenterPoint Energy Hinges Future on Gas Expansion Despite Net-Zero Pledge

Executives told analysts that they expect to add 800 miles of new gas pipeline annually

/ November 29, 2021