Steven Weissman

Net metering battle heats up as utilities fear “silent subsidy”

Steven Weissman quoted in PV-Tech, April 10, 2012

“Overall incentives are being reduced,” said Weissman. “I think about a patient in intensive care with tubes, wires, everything is hooked up and the doctor comes in and says I think the patient is doing better, let’s yank them all out! That’s not what they’re going to do, they’re going to pull one plug, ramp down one medicine and see what the impacts are.”

Steven Weissman Downplays Solyndra Collapse

Corporate Counsel, September 21, 2011 by Catherine Dunn
http://bit.ly/rgrKFe

With regards to the singular, if high-profile, failing of Solyndra, Weissman says: “It’s a vast oversimplification to point to [the failure] of one company and draw any meaningful conclusions.” The purpose of the federal loan-guarantee program is to shift risk in uncharted waters from the private sector to the taxpayer, and “whenever there’s risk, that means some things are going to succeed and some things are going to fail,” he adds.

Steven Weissman Notes State’s Pivotal Role in AT&T Merger With T-Mobile

POLITICO Pro, August 16, 2011 by Michelle Quinn
https://www.politicopro.com/ (registration required; go to H:\Law School in the News\In the News 2011\News Clips for article)

“California can refuse to approve the deal unless certain conditions are met,” Weissman said. “This would force AT&T and T-Mobile to alter the agreement in order to move ahead. Even though California’s authority doesn’t reach beyond its borders, the companies can’t merge one way in California, and another way everywhere else. In effect, a roadblock in California stops traffic on a national level.”

Steven Weissman, Daniel Farber Discuss Bryson’s Policies During CA Power Crisis

The New York Times, June 15, 2011 by Colin Sullivan
http://nyti.ms/mr4jsm

Bryson did manage to separate himself from other corporate executives by dealing directly with Davis. This made Edison “the quieter of the three major California utilities” during the crisis, Weissman said, as Bryson was working behind the scenes to pay off its debt, avoid bankruptcy and generally keep “a lower profile in terms of affiliate transactions in California power markets.”

And some tried to turn the table on Republicans when the question was raised about Bryson’s support for renewables and BrightSource specifically. “Given that the Republicans won’t vote to repeal subsidies to the oil industry, I don’t see how they can complain about subsidies for clean tech,” said Daniel Farber.

Steven Weissman Notes Hidden Threat of Pipeline Ruptures

San Francisco Chronicle, December 26, 2010 by Demian Bulwa and Jaxon Van Derbeken
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/26/MNNV1GL4FQ.DTL

It can be difficult to prepare for big events that happen rarely, such as a terrorist attack or levee breakor a pipeline rupture in a neighborhood…. “The natural gas system is largely outside of public consciousness—unless something goes terribly wrong,” said Steve Weissman.

Steven Weissman Sees Benefit in Tapping Mexico’s Renewable Energy Sources

Daily Journal, December 14, 2010 by Fiona Smith
http://bit.ly/erOxvN (registration required; go to H:\Law School in the News\In the News 2010\News Clips for article)

“You can see why some potential sins are being forgiven, at least for out-of-country facilities, if they deliver their power into the California grid,” Weissman said. “You’re not only getting the greenness, you’re getting the kilowatt hours.”