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.

DTE Energy CEO Says Proposed Renewable Energy Standard Is Not Good For Renewables

A few days after it was announced that a petition process has started with the goal of having voters decide if Michigan utilities must have 30% of their power come...

/ February 20, 2018

Michigan’s utilities have a history of trying to block renewable energy increases like the one that could be on the ballot in November

A ballot campaign to increase Michigan’s state renewable energy standard (RES) is in the works. The proposal, led by a group called Clean Energy, Healthy Michigan, asks voters to double...

/ February 12, 2018

Records request reveal Exelon behind public officials’ statements in response to watchdog investigation

“could you cut and paste this text into an email to the Joliet Herald and send it this afternoon? The email is opinions@theherald-news.com.”

/ January 17, 2018

In the race to replace Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Illinois utilities pull out their checkbooks and hedge their bets

Illinois’ major electrical and gas utility companies have donated thousands of dollars to candidates running to replace Lisa Madigan as the state’s attorney general. The utility companies – Exelon and its...

/ January 16, 2018

FERC Commissioners received free travel to secretive beach conference, organized by FirstEnergy board member

"Private invite-only events that bring together powerful industry executives to mingle off the record with regulators and decision-makers only invites a conflict of interest." - Tyson Slocum, Public Citizen

/ December 8, 2017

How Will Utilities Vote On The Latest Climate Denial Model Resolution At ALEC?

Updated on Dec. 6 to include reference to a letter from the Edison Electric Institute, NRECA, Chevron, Honeywell and UPS expressing concerns about the ALEC resolution.  In a test of...

/ December 4, 2017

Electric utilities working with oil and gas companies on ‘advocacy’ efforts to counter environmentalists

The electric utility industry, through its trade association the Edison Electric Institute, has begun working with three other fossil fuel groups to push back against organizations that oppose increased natural...

/ November 7, 2017

Candidate for Florida Governorship Pledges To Stop Accepting Utility Contributions

“It’s time the utilities stop spending money on political candidates and instead protect the residents of this state." - Senator Jack Latvala

/ October 31, 2017

Coal and utility interests ask for, receive, bailouts to help failing power plants

"You can’t see the gas lines. You can’t see wind. You can’t see solar. So maybe we need to talk about having a requirement for power plants in order to...

/ October 2, 2017

Governor Rick Scott Appoints Former Legislator That Was Critical of Solar to Public Service Commission

Update: On December 4, 2017, Ritch Workman resigned after Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto issued a statement in which she said Workman approached her from behind and “pushed his body up against me and made vulgar...

/ September 28, 2017