Arnold

In the simmering federal-state fight over liquefied natural gas (LNG) siting jurisdiction, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger weighed in earlier this month by writing to U.S. Senate energy committee leaders, urging that they not preempt state jurisdiction.

Backing off earlier proposals to include the California Public Utilities Commission, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Thursday submitted a modified proposal for creating a state energy department with a cabinet-level energy secretary. The department will be centered on a revised state energy commission consolidated with several other energy units — the Electricity Oversight Board and the basically inactive state Consumer Conservation Financing and Power Authority.

Backing off earlier proposals for an all in one strategy, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration announced Monday that the governor will be submitting a modified proposal later this week for creating a state energy department with a Cabinet-level energy secretary. The department will be centered on a revised California Energy Commission (CEC) consolidated with several other energy units — the Electricity Oversight Board and the basically inactive state Consumer Conservation Financing and Power Authority. The California Public Utilities Commission remains outside the fold.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger named his chief energy adviser as the new chairman of the California Energy Commission (CEC) and a former Reagan Administration treasury official who once headed a major Wall Street credit rating firm as the fifth member of the California Public Utilities Commission. The appointments require state Senate confirmation, but the designates can serve in their respective positions for up to a year without the lawmakers’ confirmation.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an impassioned statement declaring “another victory” with the proposed settlement for up to $750 million with Chapter 11 bankruptcy-immersed Mirant Corp. The governor promised that any net paybacks from this and other earlier settlements will be used to lower electric rates for private-sector utility customers.

One of the two new members of the California Public Utilities Commission was sworn in last Tuesday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Dian Grueneich’s official placement on the five-member regulatory panel was announced Thursday by the CPUC’s San Francisco office. A lawyer who has worked on various energy and environmental issues before the CPUC in the past, Grueneich still has to be confirmed by the California Senate, but under state law, she can serve for up to a year without being confirmed. A second Schwarzenegger appointee, Steve Poizner, was not mentioned in the CPUC announcement so it is assumed the governor is still waiting to swear him in to his new position — a paid, full-time appointment, as is Grueneich’s. A long-time observer of the CPUC and a speaker at a Seattle energy conference Thursday, Arthur O’Donnell, said as part of as summary of the state’s current energy issues that Grueneich likely will have to recuse herself from a number of CPUC votes during her first year because of the work she has done in recent years representing various consumer, energy efficiency and environmental interests before the CPUC.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an impassioned statement declaring “another victory” with the proposed settlement for up to $750 million with Chapter 11 bankruptcy-immersed Mirant Corp., which was announced last Friday (see Daily GPI, Jan. 18). The governor promised that any net paybacks from this and other earlier settlements will be used to lower electric rates for private-sector utility customers.

Beginning with Wednesday night’s state-of-the-state address by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, more information on the state’s energy plans are expected to emerge, along with indications from the state legislature on whether separate new comprehensive energy bills will be pushed separately by the Democratic majority and Republicans. Speculation is high since the governor named two new members of the California Public Utilities Commission late last month.

Consumer groups, businesses and state lawmakers are all watching closely how California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in the next few weeks handles the upcoming two vacancies on the five-member California Public Utilities Commission. Indications are his administration’s appointments secretary will be getting a steady stream of candidates from all sectors of the state.