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Itai Vardi

@vardiitai.bsky.social
263 followers 712 following 3 posts

Research manager with climate watchdog group the Energy and Policy Institute @energyandpolicy.bsky.social, keeping an eye on fossil fuel and utility interests. Tips? DM is open for Signal #

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Reposted by Itai Vardi
Energy and Policy Institute @energyandpolicy.org · 07/08/2026
Back in June, EPI raised concerns about a flurry of texts and phone calls between a Connecticut utility regulator and an Avangrid executive that took place as regulators were deliberating a rate hike request by the company's subsidiary. bit.ly/45KXCnY
bit.ly
Watchdog calls for investigation after PURA commissioner-utility communications revealed in rate case
Our I-Team obtained public records showing a state regulator was talking and texting with a utility company executive, while deciding on a requested increase in electric bills.
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Reposted by Itai Vardi
Energy and Policy Institute @energyandpolicy.org · 15/07/2026
"What they’re doing here is rolling back the rules on energy efficiency, but also trying to hide helpful tips and information for the public, and it’s going to cost people more money," @energyandpolicy.org's @vardiitai.bsky.social told @us.theguardian.com. www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
theguardian.com
Over 1,600 energy department webpages on utility bill savings removed as US temperatures soar
Guardian analysis found the removals coincided with the Trump administration’s push to weaken efficiency rules
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Reposted by Itai Vardi
Energy and Policy Institute @energyandpolicy.org · 09/06/2026
Our own @vardiitai.bsky.social is featured in this story by @wfsb.com calling for an investigation into CT's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority after public records reveal a behind-closed-doors relationship right before a commissioner approved a rate increase. www.wfsb.com/2026/06/08/w...
wfsb.com
Watchdog calls for investigation after PURA commissioner-utility communications revealed in rate case
Our I-Team obtained public records showing a state regulator was talking and texting with a utility company executive, while deciding on a requested increase in electric bills.
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Reposted by Itai Vardi
Miriam Wasser @miriamwasser.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
When your utility asks state regulators to let them raise rates, they often hire expensive consultants and outside lawyers to help them make their case. Then you, the ratepayer, foot the bill. www.wbur.org/news/2026/04... @wbur.org #energysky
wbur.org
When utilities ask to raise rates, customers pay the legal fees. A bill in Mass. would change that
Lawmakers are considering legislation that would prohibit utilities from passing on rate case expenses to their customers. Instead, the utility would foot the bill, taking the money out of its shareho...
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Reposted by Itai Vardi
David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
I started [gulp] a substack. It’s called Utility Watch, and will feature @energyandpolicy.org's research, with opinions and analysis from me. My first post is on utility profits, and why the politicians increasingly going after them are smart to do so. utilitywatch.substack.com/p/welcome-to...
utilitywatch.substack.com
Welcome to Utility Watch: Let's Talk Utility Profits
Politicians of both parties are honing in on utility profits in their plans to lower voters’ electric bills. That's smart. It’s good policy and good politics.
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Reposted by Itai Vardi
Damian Carrington @dpcarrington.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Inside a plan to use AI to amplify doubts about the dangers of pollutants - Risk analyst Tony Cox’s work has been backed by the US chemical lobby, and some health experts are alarmed Story by @dharna.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/technology/n...
theguardian.com
Inside a plan to use AI to amplify doubts about the dangers of pollutants
Risk analyst Tony Cox’s work has been backed by the chemical lobby, and some health experts are alarmed
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Reposted by Itai Vardi
Ella Nilsen @ellanilsen.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
New: Trump officials planning to shutter well-known Energy Star program as part of larger EPA staff reorg. The program has been going since 1992 and its “the most widely recognized symbol for energy efficiency in America,” per its website. www.cnn.com/2025/05/06/c...
cnn.com
Trump admin plans to shut down money-saving Energy Star program soon, sources say | CNN
The Trump administration is preparing to eliminate two key Environmental Protection Agency divisions, including the Energy Star program.
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Reposted by Itai Vardi
Energy and Policy Institute @energyandpolicy.org · 06/03/2025
"It's clear that he does work in the electric supplier space," @vardiitai.bsky.social told @ctmirror.org. "That's a clear conflict for him." Read the full story here: ctmirror.org/2025/03/05/p...
ctmirror.org
Senator seeking PURA nomination owns business probed by PURA
A company owned by state Sen. John Fonfara was probed by PURA last year to determine whether it needed a license to operate.
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Reposted by Itai Vardi
David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
😳 Staff at CT's PURA once said that the guy now being considered for a Commissioner seat, who once ran a competitive retail supplier, “should not be permitted to engage with the electric supplier market or electric utility customers in any capacity in the future.” energyandpolicy.org/ct-lawmaker-...
energyandpolicy.org
CT Lawmaker Eyeing PURA Seat Owes Struggling Ratepayer Over $1 Million
CT Lawmaker
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Reposted by Itai Vardi
David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
That quote is pretty 👀 but the whole article by @vardiitai.bsky.social is worth reading. Long-time CT legislator basically ran a scofflaw electricity supplier is now being seriously discussed to be a utility commissioner.
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Reposted by Itai Vardi
Energy and Policy Institute @energyandpolicy.org · 04/03/2025
NEW from @vardiitai.bsky.social: CT state senator John Fonfara used to run an electric supply company that still owes over $1.1M to customers who are struggling to pay their bills. He is now a candidate for commissioner on the state's utility regulatory board. energyandpolicy.org/ct-lawmaker-...
energyandpolicy.org
CT Lawmaker Eyeing PURA Seat Owes Struggling Ratepayer Over $1 Million
CT Lawmaker
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Reposted by Itai Vardi
Energy and Policy Institute @energyandpolicy.org · 27/02/2025
From @akielly.bsky.social: fossil fuel industries in the US, UK & Australia are leading campaigns to block electrification policies in buildings. A new report by @influencemap.bsky.social found laws restricting natural gas have faced major pushback from industry. grist.org/buildings/th...
grist.org
The fossil fuel industry is trying to keep buildings hooked on gas. Here’s how.
Around the globe, oil and gas companies use similar strategies to fight building electrification, according to a new report.
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Reposted by Itai Vardi
David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
The thing people should know about this headline, which is the culmination of a year's long effort by Connecticut's investor-owned utilities to smear and unseat their hard-nosed regulator, is what happened to their stock price the moment after it dropped.
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Reposted by Itai Vardi
Daniel Tait @taitdl.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
“This is the worst legislation like this that I’ve ever seen,” said Daniel Tait, director of the Energy and Policy Institute, a watchdog group that tracks and reviews utility legislation nationwide. I meant it. Follow along for some of the worst provisions. 🧵 www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/fe...
arkansasonline.com
Proposed legislation would allow state utilities to bypass PSC scrutiny for big projects | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - Arkansas' Best News Source
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Itai Vardi @vardiitai.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
ICYMI this scoop by @maxinejoselow.bsky.social @washingtonpost.com: A fossil fuel funded group is quietly behind the Energy Poverty Awareness Center, which claims to support minorities while pushing gas and fighting electrification www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
washingtonpost.com
This group says natural gas bans hurt minorities. It has gas industry ties.
The Energy Poverty Awareness Center has ties to a group that is largely funded by fossil fuel firms, according to documents reviewed by The Washington Post.
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Reposted by Itai Vardi
jae holzman @jael.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
big scoop: i got my hands on a draft executive order ending offshore wind sent to the trump transition team not only would it stop permits but includes a stop construction order and potentially rfk jr studying the health impacts of living near wind turbines heatmap.news/plus/the-fig...
heatmap.news
Scoop: The Draft Order that Offshore Wind Opponents Sent to Trump
If even only a few of these ideas are enacted, it would be a harbinger of doom for wind energy in America.
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Itai Vardi @vardiitai.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Hey! I finally made the move here.
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