Two councilmembers indicated that they are open to revoting on Entergy’s proposal for a new power plant in eastern New Orleans.
Tag: Power plant astroturfing
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Entergy investigators: Company knew or should have known about paid actors at council meetings
“If Hawthorn can get more people I will pay,” Charles Rice wrote in October 2017, weeks before a utility committee meeting.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Entergy investigation is delayed for a second time
The new deadline for the investigation into the use of paid actors at City Council meetings is Nov. 2, nearly two months after the original deadline.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Company at center of Entergy paid actor scandal is implicated in alleged extortion scheme in new federal lawsuit
The case involves a dispute between two European billionaires. According to the suit, Crowds on Demand repeatedly defamed Zdenek Bakala as part of a conspiracy to extort millions of dollars from him.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Investigation into Entergy paid actor scandal delayed by new cache of evidence
New Orleans City Council set to vote on pushing the deadline to October. Investigators say they need more time to review additional records.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Power plant opponents spar with city council over being kept out of public meetings on power plant
A judge will rule on whether the council violated the Open Meetings Law.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Investigations
How Entergy spent $1.3 million to polish its reputation, script support and monitor opposition to its new power plant
We know about the scheme to pay people to show up at meetings to support a new natural gas plant in New Orleans. But that was just a fraction of more than a million dollars the utility spent to burnish Entergy’s reputation, script support and monitor opponents.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Investigations
Councilwoman Nguyen’s nonprofit, two advisers to Cantrell worked on Entergy’s campaign for new power plant
Cantrell’s spokesman said she knew about the relationship, but “on this and on every other issue — Mayor Cantrell thinks for herself.”
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Investigations
Documents show Entergy, PR firm knew more about astroturfing campaign than they let on
Documents released to the city council cast doubt on Entergy’s contention that it didn’t know supporters would be paid to show up at public meetings to promote the power plant. An Entergy employee was told of allegations three times, as early as October. Documents also contradict the PR firm’s contention that it didn’t know, either.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Investigations
Documents detail price, logistics behind the campaign to pay actors to support New Orleans power plant
A public-relations firm billed Entergy New Orleans about $55,000 to bring supporters of a new power plant to two public meetings. Some of those people were actors. Documents turned over to the city council raise questions about Entergy’s claim that it didn’t know supporters would be paid.