All posts by Matt Kasper

Matt Kasper is the Deputy Director at the Energy and Policy Institute. He focuses on defending policies that further the development of clean energy sources. He also focuses on the companies and their front groups that obstruct policy solutions to global warming. Before joining the Energy and Policy Institute in 2014, Matt was a research assistant at the Center for American Progress where he worked on various state and local policy issues.

Utility Corruption

Michigan PSC rebuffs ALJ recommendation, allows DTE Energy to force customers to pay EEI dues

When the Michigan Public Service Commission approved a $273.3 million rate increase for DTE Electric earlier this month, renewable energy and environmental advocates were moderately satisfied. The PSC approved an...

/ May 16, 2019

UWAG and USWAG: the secretive utility groups that also target EPA safeguards remain after Utility Air Regulatory Group disbands

The Utility Air Regulatory Group announced on Friday that its remaining members had decided to disband the embattled project after more than 40 years. UARG had been an unincorporated group...

/ May 13, 2019

FCC filings detail additional link between MidAmerican and anti-solar REAL Coalition

Documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission may help solve the mystery of who is behind the REAL Coalition, a pro-utility front group which has opposed a solar-friendly policy in...

/ April 30, 2019

As utilities flee newly scandalous UARG, remaining members make dishonest claims about its purpose

As investigations continue into former Utility Air Regulatory Group attorney and EPA Assistant Administrator Bill Wehrum over possible violations of ethics rules, a flood of utility companies that were members...

/ April 23, 2019

DTE Energy aims to continue its gas buildout as it proposes to leave coal by 2040

DTE Energy announced a plan to retire its coal-fired power plants by 2040 on Friday, but the utility is preserving the option to build more gas-burning power plants while the...

/ April 2, 2019
DTE Energy set a net-zero carbon goal but continues to invest in gas

Utility Front Group ‘Michigan Energy Promise’ Emerges to Rally DTE Energy Foundation Recipients to Target Solar Industry

Michigan Energy Promise, a new front group with strong ties to the Michigan monopoly utility, DTE Energy, recently began backing the utility’s arguments against rooftop solar power. The group’s appearance...

/ March 5, 2019

City of Milwaukee invests in its own solar, rejects We Energies’ offer for now as councilors express ire with utility’s efforts to stifle market

Milwaukee’s Public Works Committee advanced a resolution yesterday to construct up to .21 megawatts of solar systems on three of the city’s libraries, rebuffing efforts by the monopoly utility company...

/ February 14, 2019
Utility Corruption

Utilities Made A Final Push To Aid Republican and Democratic Governors Associations Leading Up To The Election

Campaign finance forms filed earlier this month with the IRS detail how several large investor-owned utility companies made substantial contributions to both the Republican and Democratic Governors Associations, as well...

/ December 18, 2018

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker Again Appoints Ellen Nowak To PSC

With just a few weeks remaining as governor, Republican Scott Walker appointed his top aid Ellen Nowak to the Public Service Commission (PSC). Earlier this year, Nowak was chosen by...

/ December 17, 2018

What The Public Learned From The Utility Industry In 2018

Deceit, money in politics, astroturfing: 12 revelations from the electric utility industry

/ December 13, 2018