Utilities
Massages and country clubs: Your electric bill may be funding lavish perks
Utility customers sometimes foot the bill for lobbying, advertising and luxurious living, new report shows
Mario Alejandro Ariza/Floodlight
Mario is an investigative reporter and a Dominican immigrant. His byline has appeared in the South Florida Sun Sentinel, The New Republic and NPR. mario@floodlightnews.org
Utilities
North Carolina town sues Duke Energy for climate ‘deception’
Carrboro, N.C., accuses Duke of knowingly fueling the climate crisis for decades with harmful emissions, deception, delay and ‘greenwashing’
Insurance
Climate change drives up insurance costs — and missed mortgage payments
New study finds a $500 insurance hike boosts mortgage delinquencies by 20%, stressing housing impact of changing climate.
Power Play
Ex-Florida senator guilty in election case sentenced to 60 days in jail
Frank Artiles was found guilty on three election-related counts after running a no-party spoiler candidate in a 2020 Florida Senate race.
Utilities
Big utility PACs favor GOP in high-stakes 2024 races
While Republicans are the main beneficiaries, in the narrowly divided Senate, power companies hedged their bets with donations to some Dems
Polluting Democracy
Private calls and campaign cash: Louisiana regulators’ ties to the utilities they oversee
The state is tied for dead last in renewable energy adoption. Little surprise, with so much fossil fuel money flowing to its commissioners.
Polluting Democracy
Utility regulators take millions from industries they oversee. What could go wrong?
The clean energy transition, for one, a Floodlight analysis of campaign finance data reveals.
Power Play
‘They stole an election’; Former Florida senator convicted in ‘ghost candidates’ scandal
Frank Artiles was found guilty on three election-related counts after running a no-party spoiler candidate in a 2020 Florida Senate race.
Polluting Democracy
This Florida ‘ghost candidates’ scandal puts the entire utility sector on trial
As former Sen. Frank Artiles's case unspools in Miami, will the power company linked to the political scandal ever be held responsible?
Polluting Democracy
Dark money group aiding Cornel West has ties to utility operative
A lawyer tied to secret funding of spoiler candidates in Florida is more evidence West’s biggest backers are people who want Trump to win
Gulf Coast
Louisiana utility commission OKs major donor’s plan to buy Entergy gas system
A Bernhard Capital Partners subsidiary — new to the natural gas business — is buying gas systems in Louisiana, Mississippi and New Mexico
Power Play
Florida investor uses internal records to sue power company for alleged fraud
The lawsuit alleging mismanagement and lies is the latest legal action by shareholders against Florida Power & Light’s parent company
Rising Tide
Miami entering a state of unreality: Adaptation to climate change can’t fix the city’s water problems
As record rainfalls pound south Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis decries ‘radical green zealots’ who want him to do more.
Polluting Democracy
S.C. utilities push for more gas, ‘blank check,’ amid specter of past scandal
The scramble to increase supply has state lawmakers debating a fast-tracked bill that locks in new gas and undoes hard-won reforms
Polluting Democracy
Ohio Gov. DeWine campaign got secret $2.5 million boost from power company, new records show
A dark money group funded by FirstEnergy spent $2.5 million to support the GOP hopeful as the utility pushed bailout of struggling nuclear plants.
Gulf Coast
23 states ask EPA to halt civil rights rules regulating pollution
The dispute stems from a ruling by a Louisiana judge that the agency’s application of race-based considerations exceeds its authority.