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Senate confirms Freeman to head California power authority

The Associated Press
Tuesday August 13, 2002

SACRAMENTO — The state Senate, in a fiery two-hour debate that stirred old passions about rolling blackouts and price manipulation by now-bankrupt energy traders, confirmed the nomination Monday of 76-year-old S. David Freeman as the state’s top energy chief. 

Freeman, a blunt-talking 40-year public power veteran and choice of Gov. Gray Davis to steer billions of dollars toward building new state power plants, prevailed over Republican opposition in a 25-13 vote. 

Republicans painted Freeman as incompetent, unqualified and unworthy of the $220,008-a-year job he has held since last August. But a Democratic majority, even while acknowledging discomfort with Freeman’s track record during last year’s energy crisis, backed Davis’ nominee to chair the California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority. 

Freeman’s responsibilities include issuing up to $4 billion in bonds to buy, build or lease power plants, and another $1 billion to spur energy conservation. 

Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Daly City, called it her toughest choice on a gubernatorial nominee in a decade, saying, “I’m going to lay this one on the governor. He wants David Freeman. I’m going to give him Mr. Freeman.” 

Speier and other Democrats joined Republicans questioning Freeman’s role as head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, when it joined Texas-based Enron and other power generators charging California high prices for electricity.