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Tag: Power plant astroturfing

Council votes for potential $5 million fine on Entergy, some councilmembers open to revoting on power plant

Two councilmembers indicated that they are open to revoting on Entergy’s proposal for a new power plant in eastern New Orleans.
by Michael Isaac Stein October 31, 2018 Updated November 7, 2019

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.
by Michael Stein and Charles Maldonado October 29, 2018 Updated November 7, 2019

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.
by Michael Isaac Stein October 18, 2018 Updated November 7, 2019

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.
by Michael Isaac Stein September 25, 2018 Updated November 7, 2019

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.
by Michael Isaac Stein September 5, 2018 Updated November 7, 2019

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.
by Marta Jewson July 19, 2018 Updated November 7, 2019

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.
by Michael Stein and Charles Maldonado July 12, 2018 Updated September 10, 2021

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.”
by Michael Stein and Charles Maldonado July 12, 2018 Updated November 7, 2019

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.
by Michael Isaac Stein June 21, 2018 Updated November 7, 2019

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.
by Michael Isaac Stein June 13, 2018 Updated November 7, 2019

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