A UCLA researcher collaborated with the former California Public Utilities Commission president to craft a settlement for the closure of a San Diego energy station so that the UCLA campus would especially benefit, according to an email that was publicly released this week.
In an email sent to former commission president Michael Peevey on Oct. 2, 2014, Stephanie Pincetl, director of the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, asked Peevey to change his draft of the settlement agreement so that UCLA specifically would benefit from a research program resulting from the closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. The power plant closed in June 2013 and a $4.7 billion settlement was reached last year.
UCLA spokesperson Tod Tamberg said in an email that after news of closing San Onofre had been publicized, Pincetl suggested to Peevey that any possible settlement should include Southern California campuses – such as UCLA – covered by the regional suppliers.
Pincetl suggested involving regional energy suppliers because she thinks they could access research facilities at various institutions to collectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Tamberg said in the statement.
Pincetl also drafted a proposal for a $25 million data research center related to San Onofre’s closing about half a year before its closure was settled in court. UCLA has said Peevey specifically requested it to draft the $25 million research proposal.
The California Public Utilities Commission is supposed to conduct its business publicly, so the emails and early discussions are under scrutiny. Peevey, who resigned last year from his position as president, is under investigation for other non-public dealings.
UCLA officials denied any wrongdoing and making any specific requests for settlement money.
“There was no discussion or understanding on UCLA’s part that the (Institute of the Environment and Sustainability) was somehow applying for research funding, as the San Diego Tribune has erroneously reported on several occasions,” Tamberg said in the email.
Pincetl declined to personally comment for this article and referred the Daily Bruin to UCLA media relations.
Compiled by Kristen Taketa, Bruin senior staff, and Andrea Henthorn, Bruin contributor.