Entrepreneur

With U.S. natural gas supplies surging, a Des Moines, IA, automobile entrepreneur says he is only a few months away from importing and converting a Chinese-made passenger car, the Noble, to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.

Michael Peevey, a former utility executive and energy industry entrepreneur, was reappointed Nov. 28 to another six-year term on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and retained as its president. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also reappointed CPUC member Rachelle Chong. The appointments require confirmation by the state Senate. Peevey, 70, was originally appointed by Schwarzenegger predecessor Gray Davis and was later reappointed and made CPUC president by Schwarzenegger, who can select another member of the five-member panel to the top position at any time. Chong, 49, a former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) member, was selected for the CPUC by Schwarzenegger three years ago after the governor tapped then-CPUC member Susan Kennedy to be his chief of staff. Peevey has served as president of the CPUC since 2002 and is a Democrat. Chong, a Republican, has served since 2006 and was originally appointed to the FCC by President Bill Clinton. Peevey is an economist and Chong is one of four lawyers on the CPUC.

Michael Peevey, a former utility executive and energy industry entrepreneur, was reappointed last Friday to another six-year term on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and retained as its president. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also reappointed CPUC member Rachelle Chong.

The only new face unseating an incumbent in California’s 53-member Congressional delegation turned out to be an alternative energy entrepreneur with a doctorate in mathematics. Rep.-elect Jerry McNerney, a wind energy specialist, unseated seven-term Rep. Richard Pombo from the state’s 11th District in the San Francisco Bay Area. Pombo was chairman of the House Resources Committee. Environmental groups have taken credit for defeating Pombo whom they accuse of trying to roll-back various environmental protections in California and elsewhere.

Steve Poizner, a Silicon Valley telecommunications multi-millionaire entrepreneur, withdrew his name on Wednesday from consideration to fill one of the five seats on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), citing too many conflicts with his rich and varied personal investment portfolio. Poizner, an unsuccessful candidate for an elected state legislative seat two years ago, said he plans to run next year for the state Insurance Commissioner’s post.

Steve Poizner, a Silicon Valley telecommunications multi-millionaire entrepreneur, withdrew his name on Wednesday from consideration to fill one of the five seats on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), citing too many conflicts with his rich and varied personal investment portfolio. Poizner, an unsuccessful candidate for an elected state legislative seat two years ago, said he plans to run next year for the state Insurance Commissioner’s post.