All posts by Matt Kasper

Matt Kasper is the Deputy Director at the Energy and Policy Institute. He focuses on defending policies that further the development of clean energy sources. He also focuses on the companies and their front groups that obstruct policy solutions to global warming. Before joining the Energy and Policy Institute in 2014, Matt was a research assistant at the Center for American Progress where he worked on various state and local policy issues.

Legislation introduced by Rep. Kathy Castor instructs FERC to ban utilities from using ratepayer dollars for political activities

The “Ethics in Energy Act” also aims to increase transparency and add penalties for noncompliance

/ August 2, 2023

American Gas Association Facebook campaign targets agency exploring health risks of gas stoves

Consumer Product Safety Commission docket flooded with AGA comments

/ May 23, 2023
DTE Energy set a net-zero carbon goal but continues to invest in gas

New Michigan front group with connections to DTE Energy launches ahead of the elections

Protect Our Values, a new dark money front group with connections to DTE Energy appears to be preparing to send messages to voters this election season. Protect Our Values was...

/ July 5, 2022
Utility Corruption

FERC issues Notice of Inquiry to understand how it can protect customers from subsidizing trade association political activities

Federal energy regulators issued questions to the public last week as part of a process they may use to make it more difficult for the nation’s electric and gas utilities...

/ December 20, 2021

Washington DC PSC Rejects FOIA requests for records of Willie Phillips’ participation in industry-funded events

The Washington DC Public Service Commission has rejected a Freedom of Information Act request regarding Chairman Willie Phillips’ participation in invitation-only events funded in part by utilities, including a utility...

/ August 6, 2021

NRECA runs misleading pro-coal ads to sway Illinois lawmakers

As negotiations continue over a climate and energy bill in Illinois, misleading online advertisements from a group called “Voices for Cooperative Power” have appeared. The ads running in Illinois political...

/ July 15, 2021

Duke Energy PAC resumes contributions to lawmakers who voted to overturn election

Duke is one of the first utilities to have resumed giving after a pause to evaluate lawmakers’ “values and actions”

/ May 18, 2021

FOIA Documents Reveal Tennessee Valley Authority’s Role in the Utility Air Regulatory Group

Newly released documents detail the Tennessee Valley Authority’s relationship with the now-defunct Utility Air Regulatory Group (UARG). Hundreds of emails, calendar invitations, budget documents, and Hunton Andrews Kurth billing details...

/ April 6, 2021

Michigan utilities’ front groups begin misleading ad campaigns ahead of a vote on energy legislation

Two front groups with connections to DTE Energy and Consumers Energy launched a Facebook ad campaign last week ahead of a possible vote on solar energy legislation. DTE Energy’s Alliance...

/ March 30, 2021