Capital B - Floodlight

Fueling Disinformation

‘Control the narrative’: How an Alabama utility wields influence by financing news

A Floodlight investigation found Alabama Power runs a news service and its foundation bought a Black newspaper. Neither publishes critical stories about the utility.

Polluting Democracy

‘What corruption gets you’: How utility companies bought support in the Black south

A joint investigation by Floodlight and Capital B shows millions of dollars flowed from utilities to Black leaders and their groups since at least 2009.

Utilities

Voting rights decision may curb push to diversify Georgia, Alabama utility commissions

Plaintiffs in the challenge to Georgia Public Service Commission’s statewide elections appear headed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Gulf Coast

Public outcry against carbon capture in Louisiana growing

Some activists worry that the daytime state task force hearings in Baton Rouge on the issue are missing important voices from affected Black communities.

Gulf Coast

In communities of color, most oil and gas jobs still go to white workers

There’s an unspoken promise when an industry moves into any community: We will disrupt your lives, but in exchange we will provide good-paying jobs.

Utilities

Public utility commissions are exceptionally white. It’s hurting black residents.

As the new head of a group of conservation voters in Georgia, Brionté McCorkle wanted to sit down with regulators who oversee the state’s utilities to talk about carbon emissions.