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Marin officials lodge complaint against PG&E

Mucrury News -- Marin County energy officials have filed a complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission over what they claim are attempts by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to quash their plans to offer an alternative, cleaner energy source to county residents.
The Marin Energy Authority announced the complaint Friday, claiming that PG&E was violating state law by seeking to kill the Marin Clean Energy initiative.

The initiative, a program of the authority, is intended to increase the use of renewable energy in Marin County. It would also place the authority in the position of a competitor with PG&E as a provider of electricity in the area.



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Submitted Mar 14, 2010 By: JOHNNY95206
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Author Topic: Marin officials lodge complaint against PG&E Post a Reply Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:40:32 PM

my3sons: yes, PG&E and many other electricity generating companies in the country are against cleaner burning materials. Why? Because it means cuts into their profits if they have to change their dirty ways and even more when they face competition.
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:39:18 PM

Of course PG&E would have issues. It's cutting down their monopolic status. Which business likes to see the branch upon which it sits to be sawed off?
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my3sons
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 2:21:44 PM

they are against cleaner burning fuels?
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POLELANE
Champion Author Ohio

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 11:20:48 AM

pretty good at electricity; but apparently still failing in public relations
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wild3bill
All-Star Author New York

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 11:20:19 AM

This was why the government forced power generation half to be split from the distribution and delivery half of the Business.
I live in the hudson Valley and PG&E scares me. After my local power company, NYSE&G was split, I read that Energy East, the Gerneration half was taken over(hostile)by a European company that paid $28/share. The other half, which kept the NYSE&G name, was taken over by a California company for $2/share(possibly PG&E).
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wild3bill
All-Star Author New York

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 11:05:31 AM

PG&E were th bad guy in Erin Brocavitch too !?
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MUSTANGSRUS
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 11:00:28 AM

To WonderfulMI - I think that you have hit the nail on the head.
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Iversonfan
All-Star Author Richmond

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:59:27 AM

as much as big oil cheats its customers its amazing how much fighting there is to keep there profits high and have over priced gas and oil on the market which is slowing down the growth as a nation .. wow
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wegman
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:54:52 AM

Hostile marketing - that is public relations.
Lawsuits - in this day and age that is an unfortunately common tool. But the Greens use them a lot more than the energy industry.
Threats - I'd be interested in the nature of the threats.

Now there might be misguided laws that unfairly restrict the ability of PG&E to act in its self-interest, but the first two items don't strike me as terrible things to do.

And as almost all renewables cost more than current technology, I'm inclined to believe that Marin is either engaging in deceitful marketing (more renewables, same price) and/or will tap into taxpayer money for their plan (not illegal, but not where I want my tax money to go).

Greens cry wolf AND use lawyers to implement their misbegotten plans all too often. I'm inclined to see that as the case here - I do NOT trust 'Green' power companies.
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nehemiah
Champion Author Portland

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:51:19 AM

yet another reason we need to invest more in alternative energy research
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jeepman64
All-Star Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:43:34 AM

And the lawyers line their pockets in the meantime.
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foxups
Champion Author Toledo

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:41:48 AM

need more competition out there
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TXGasPriceSpy
Champion Author Fort Worth

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:39:15 AM

California is a great place to visit but I'm sure glad I don't live there.
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toadNY
Champion Author Albany

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:38:44 AM

Good post WonderfulMI,
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fedex09
All-Star Author Missouri

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:38:24 AM

The older company wants to keep the newer greener company out. This has been the same old story since business began.
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granma3xnow
Champion Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:35:14 AM

Of course PG&E is fighting it.....THEY HAVE A MONOPOLY!!!!!
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WonderfulMI
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:35:08 AM

Yes, by gum! Crush that competition! Especially if the competition does not pollute. Pollution is what many companies are built on. Pollution made this country what it is today. Make your product and let someone else clean up the mess is the motto of many companies.

The "old"energy companies are terrified that clean green energy will become cheaper that polluting energy. It already is, when one factors the true cost of pollution on our health.
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HailstormCA
Champion Author San Diego

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:33:43 AM

Go Marin County! But will the rates for PG&E customers go up to pay for the court fight. TAKE IT OUT OF THE PROFITS!
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twiper1
Champion Author San Diego

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:32:43 AM

The exesting energy companys need to improve the way they make energy. Not block the newer ones that want to make it the green way.
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Wizrd03
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:32:15 AM

yuiyui has valid points. The local county agency can create a new agency to sell power (lord knows where they're getting it from) AFTER application and Approval from the public service comission.

I'm assuming they're like another Enron, marketing power but not delivering - PG&E has the wires to deliver in their service territory. Marin must pay a fee to sell power over those wires which will be passed on to the customer. Marin must secure contracts to supply continous power to the customer, PG&E won't be responsible to "fill in the gaps" when the wind doesn't blow or the sun doesn't shine. Where's that comming from - some Wyoming coal plant?

We all know that the non incentivised cost of renewables is probably 50% higher than the mix of power offered by the utility, so who's Marin kidding?
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Ticoman54
Champion Author Miami

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:31:42 AM

The GREED continues and PG& E is a blazing example of it.
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njerald
Champion Author Seattle

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:31:41 AM

Screw Marin county.....
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vizilo
Champion Author British Columbia

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:30:52 AM

How exciting!!
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repeater1
Champion Author Kansas

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:28:46 AM

Somebody is afraid they are going to lose customers with new technology they are not invested in. Nothing more than a stall tactic by PG&E
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Doubleeez
Champion Author Connecticut

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:28:16 AM

Go Marin - why should P G & E have the right to challenge you?
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DirtDauber
Champion Author San Antonio

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:26:45 AM

It is no wonder that California is broke.
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doncNJ
Champion Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:25:54 AM

What about the dear ol taxpayers.
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karmadrome
Champion Author Wisconsin

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:24:12 AM

Yes, let's move to all electric vehicles. Forget oil greed, no, instead we have altruistic energy companies like PG&E.

*rolls eyes*
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kyrunner
Champion Author Lexington

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:23:15 AM

More gnashing of the teeth by another tax funded government agency who I am sure are using taxpayer funds to compete with a private company. I say enough with the government agencies!
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Toppers
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:22:31 AM

Good 4 them...
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wizzard1222
Champion Author St. Louis

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:10:50 AM

True public interest should be served !!!
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CPGas1815
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:09:01 AM

Does anybody remember Erin Brokovich? PG&E has demonstrated deplorable behavior in the past. Looks like they are back to their dirty old tricks. PG&E mouthpieces should just shut up or sit on a transformer. That would give them a real power enema!
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PrepHermit
Champion Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:04:36 AM

But is it really a viable option?
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nurdco
Champion Author Colorado Springs

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:04:30 AM

Give me... PG&E a tax break like the auto industry
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Hugo40
Champion Author Kentucky

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:03:44 AM

Everyone gets squeezed but mostly the consumers.
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ILANGE9
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:02:57 AM

There's always someone.
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adr47
Champion Author Saskatchewan

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:01:55 AM

Put the screws to the big Guys.
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balljars
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 10:01:24 AM

Too much government in everything.
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RoadhogMA
Champion Author Boston

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:59:37 AM

Yes Go Marin .
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smoketown
Champion Author Cincinnati

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:58:48 AM

Sure , squeeze out the little man.......
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fire@53
Champion Author Philadelphia

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:57:45 AM

I guess PG&E does not like competition.
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mysub
Champion Author Las Vegas

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:57:05 AM

It's California. I need not say more.
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CLM06
Champion Author Tampa

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:54:36 AM

I'm amazed that PG&E is still around with all the law suits against it over the years
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yuiyui
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:53:59 AM

I for one would like to hear the other side of the story. This IS California after all. I've nothing against alternative energy but:

- is the MCE taxpayer funded at all?

- is PG&E really fighting dirty?

It's not fair to slam them w/o hearing the other side. Just like the perpetual motion machine energy for "green" sources that cost the same always sets off my suspicion meter.
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Don20
Champion Author Oklahoma City

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:53:28 AM

An example of the adage, whatever you do you cannot please everyone..
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GasholeMI
Champion Author Lansing

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:53:21 AM

I wonder what this will cost the taxpayers in California. I hope they are all very wealthy.
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bababooey2
Champion Author Hartford

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:52:30 AM

Whoa
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impala2008
All-Star Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:51:38 AM

That's california
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LongPlay
All-Star Author Albuquerque

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:51:32 AM

Not clear from the article but Marin County should not be able to use our tax dollars to compete with a utility company.
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DABEE1073
Champion Author San Diego

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Message Posted: Mar 14, 2010 9:50:30 AM

PG&E MUST GO DOWN. THEY ARE AFRAID THAT THEY WILL LOOSE TO MUCH MONEY.
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