DEMOCRATS KILL BILL TO STOP UNION CEQA 'GREENMAIL' OVER POWER PLANTS

Democrats on the Senate energy committee this week shot down a Republican's attempt to curtail alleged "greenmail" by unions to delay power plant approvals through environmental objections until energy companies agree to employ organized labor. The death of the bill reflects what many believe is an impossible attempt to restrict the rights of labor groups to weigh in substantively on the environmental elements of proposed energy facilities. The bill, SB 628 (Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga), directs the California Energy...