How Tom and the People turned the tide to stop the Puente Power Plant

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In the coastal city of Oxnard, California, Tom Steyer and the people defeated one of the largest energy corporations in the United States. The victory changed the way large, gas-fired power plants are permitted in the state and sent a powerful message to communities across America: when people come together, they can win.

For decades, polluters targeted Oxnard as an industrial dumping ground, instead of the wealthier, whiter communities of Malibu and Santa Monica nearby. The city’s population of primarily Latinx, foreign-born, and low-income residents don’t have easy access to their beach — three power plants and a Superfund site divide homes from the sand. The asthma rates in some neighborhoods are higher than 90% percent of the rest of the state.

A group of Oxnard residents, including many young activists, wanted to change their community. They started organizing and successfully pushed the Oxnard City Council to unanimously approve a ban on new power plants along their city’s coast. But NRG Energy, the country’s biggest independent electric power company, ignored the ban.

NRG applied to the state for a new, gas-fired facility — the Puente Power Plant.

A coalition of residents, environmental activists, and local elected officials protested NRG’s proposal. Tom heard about their efforts and asked how he could help. He attended state hearings with them, testified against the power plant, wrote articles, and rallied supporters around the state.

Together, Tom and the people turned the tide. State officials announced their decision to reject the gas facility and NRG withdrew its application. The Puente Power Project was dead. 

Today, all the power plants on Oxnard’s coast, two of them owned by NRG, are closed. But NRG is refusing to take responsibility for demolishing its plants and restoring the beach. There is still a lot to do, but Tom will continue working with communities to take on corporate polluters.

Press

Tom Steyer releases video urging opposition to Oxnard power plant.
Another power plant in Oxnard? Energy Commission must say no: Tom Steyer and Gladys Limon.
Editorial: The beginning of the end of big, climate-changing power plants in California.
How Producing Clean Power Turned Out to Be a Messy Business.

Tom and the People

Founded Need to Impeach

Tom launched a grassroots movement that grew to over eight million people.

Founded Need to Impeach

Tom launched Need to Impeach in 2017, a grassroots movement of over eight million people to push Congress to hold Donald Trump accountable well before it was politically popular. Now a majority of House Democrats support impeachment.

Defeated Dirty Energy in Nevada

Tom sponsored a ballot initiative to raise the minimum amount of renewable power.

Defeated Dirty Energy in Nevada

In Nevada, voters advanced a ballot initiative sponsored by Tom to raise the minimum amount of renewable power on the grid to 50% by 2030.

Beat Big Oil

Tom shut down efforts to roll back climate laws.

Beat Big Oil

When big oil companies tried to kill California’s ambitious climate laws, Tom successfully led the “No on Prop. 23” coalition and defeated their effort by a staggering 23-point margin.

Held Big Tobacco Accountable

Tom forced big tobacco companies to pay their share of tobacco-related health care costs.

Held Big Tobacco Accountable

To reduce smoking, fund health care, and save lives, Tom went toe-to-toe with Big Tobacco, and won a cigarette tax increase ballot measure that was passed by 64.4% of the state.

Beat Dirty Energy in Michigan

Tom joined voters demanding more renewable power and energy efficiency programs.

Beat Dirty Energy in Michigan

After more than 350,000 Michigan voters demanded more renewable power and energy efficiency programs, Tom successfully negotiated with the state’s largest utilities to accelerate their clean energy usage to 30% by 2030.

Amplified the People's Voice

Tom joined an environmentally-burdened community and defeated the polluting Puente Power Plant.

Amplified the People’s Voice

After one of the largest energy providers in the United States proposed a gas-fired power plant in a predominantly low-income and Latinx California community, Tom joined residents and activists and successfully defeated the Puente Power Plant.

Led Research for Sustainability

TomKat Ranch is a place that explores new sustainable agriculture methods.

Led Research for Sustainability

Tom and his wife Kat started a 1,800-acre grass-fed cattle ranch that works with scientists on new regenerative agriculture methods and provide that research to the public.

Beat Big Pharma

Tom and a coalition won a drug-pricing transparency bill in California.

Beat Big Pharma

Tom and a broad coalition of consumer, labor, health, and business groups took on the pharmaceutical industry and won a drug-pricing transparency bill in California, despite millions spent by industry lobbyists opposed to drug reforms.

Banking For The People

By 2018, more than 75% of Beneficial State Bank’s loan portfolio funded mission-based categories.

Banking For The People

Using their own money as capital, Tom and Kat launched Beneficial State Bank in 2007 to provide value-based banking services. By 2018, more than 75% of the bank’s loan portfolio funded mission-based categories, such as renewable energy, affordable housing, and women and minority-owned businesses.

Mobilized Voters

In 2018, NextGen America reached over seven million young people between 18 and 35 years old.

Mobilized Voters

Tom founded this political advocacy group in 2013 to combat climate change, promote social justice, and increase civic engagement through grassroots organizing. Since its start, NextGen America has registered over 1.5 million voters.

Won Funding For Schools

He helped close a corporate tax loophole to generate billions of dollars for public schools.

Won Funding For Schools

Tom proposed, financed, and won Prop. 39, a California ballot initiative that closed a corporate tax loophole and provided $1.7B to schools for energy upgrades.