Message From the Editor

NW Natural, a gas utility based in Oregon, is seeking to raise its customers’ bills by roughly 12 percent. The new proposed rate hike would go in part towards millions of dollars of executive bonuses, higher returns to shareholders, and a larger advertising budget. A coalition of environmental organizations led by Earthjustice asked the public utilities commission to deny the request and alleged that NW Natural has a history of “misleading” advertising. Nick Cunningham has the story.

This week, we also dug into gas across the border in Canada. Geoff Dembicki shed light on the way Fuelling Canada, a gas-industry astroturf group, is trying to reach first-time homebuyers with sponsored content in newspapers and Facebook ads. Although Fuelling Canada projects an image of neutrality and describes itself as “a resource hub,” it was created by the Canadian Gas Association, an industry group whose members include gas companies like Enbridge and FortisBC, as well as TC Energy, builder of the Coastal GasLink pipeline. Dive in.

Finally, we covered a new report by Fossil Free California that found the state’s pension fund managers are circulating divestment “misinformation” by exaggerating the cost of shedding their fossil fuel investments. This comes as lawmakers are considering a bill that would require two state pension funds to divest from oil and gas by the end of the decade. The funds have estimated holdings of $7.4 billion and $4.1 billion respectively in fossil fuel investments that would need to be divested if the law goes into effect. Sharon Kelly reports.

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Thanks,
Brendan DeMelle

Executive Director

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Oregon Gas Utility Wants to Bill Customers Millions for Executive Bonuses and ‘Misleading’ Advertising

— By Nick Cunningham (10 min. read) —

NW Natural, a gas utility based in Oregon, is seeking to raise gas bills on its customers in order to pay for millions in executive bonuses, higher returns to shareholders, and a larger advertising budget. It is also hoping to saddle ratepayers with costs associated with the utility’s political activities, in which the company engaged in “misleading” marketing to perpetuate the use of gas at a time when the state is attempting to electrify homes and businesses, a coalition of environmental organizations led by Earthjustice argue in a formal proceeding.

As California Considers Dropping Fossil Fuels from Major Pension Funds, New Report Calls Out ‘Misinformation’ on Costs​​​​​​​

— By Sharon Kelly (7 min. read)—

A newly published report by Fossil Free California finds California’s pension fund managers are circulating divestment “misinformation” by exaggerating the costs involved in shedding their fossil fuel investments in documents prepared for state lawmakers.

California lawmakers are currently considering Senate Bill 1173 (SB-1173), California’s Fossil Fuel Divestment Act, which would require the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), to stop investing in fossil fuels before the decade is out. The move would impact billions of dollars currently invested in oil, gas, or coal on behalf of California’s teachers, firefighters, and other public employees.

New Gas Industry Astroturf Group ‘Fuelling Canada’ Targets First-Time Homebuyers​​​​​​​

— By Geoff Dembicki (3 min. read)—

In April, the Globe & Mail published an article on its website extolling the virtues of natural gas appliances in people’s houses.

The story, headlined “Why natural gas is the smart choice for your new home,” has the look and feel of actual journalism. It includes statistics about Canada’s “reliable” gas industry, a photo of a young couple cooking on their gas range and quotes from Canadian homebuilders and makers of consumer products—such as grills and fireplaces—that use gas.

GB News Appoints Chairman Who Spent Years Promoting Climate Denial​​​​​​​

— By Adam Barnett (5 min. read)—

The new chairman of GB News has a history of sharing articles that dismiss the threat of climate change, sharpening concerns about the TV channel’s role as a platform for opponents of climate action.

Between 2013 and 2017, United Arab Emirates-based investment manager Alan McCormick tweeted numerous articles by climate science deniers, including one calling on readers to “celebrate carbon dioxide.”

Twitter’s New Ad Policy Ignores a Subtler Form of Climate Disinformation

— By Jamie Henn (5 min. read) —

There’s a simple rule when it comes to corporate climate commitments: when they come out on Earth Day, they’re often too good to be true.

That’s certainly the case with Twitter’s April 22 announcement that they’ll be banning ads that contradict the “scientific consensus” on climate change in a bid to counter the climate disinformation that runs rampant across the platform.

From the Climate Disinformation Database: Californians for Affordable & Reliable Energy (CARE)

Californians for Affordable & Reliable Energy (CARE) is focused on fighting against clean and renewable energy initiatives in California, suggesting they would drive up energy costs. According to nonprofit filings, CARE is now registered as a 501(c)(4) organization in San Rafael, California. CARE has worked with the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), a trade association supporting large oil companies including Chevron, BP, ConocoPhillips, Exxon, Shell, and numerous others.
Read its full profile and browse other individuals and organizations in our Climate Disinformation Database and Koch Network Database.