Malena Carollo

California taxpayers gave PG&E a huge, supposedly safe loan. The losses are already mounting Gov. Gavin Newsom said federal funds would cover a $1.4 billion loan to keep Diablo Canyon open. They could fall $588 million short.

Three years ago, Gov. Newsom's administration convinced lawmakers to give PG&E a highly unusual $1.4 billion loan to keep open its nuclear power plant. It was supposed to be completely repaid by expected federal money.

We found nearly half might have to be forgiven. My latest for @calmatters.org

Don't mind me, just admiring @gabehong.bsky.social's handiwork on our new CalMatters/The Markup Guild logos

We hit our goal! Big thank you to everyone who donated, we're so thankful to be able to help give our colleagues some extra cushion with your support.

If you are hiring for roles across the newsroom, we'd love to connect you with our talented colleagues!

Donate to Support laid off CalMatters-The Markup journalists, organized by Malena Carollo Seven of our unionized colleagues at CalMatters/The Markup were noti… Malena Carollo needs your support for Support laid off CalMatters-The Markup journalists

Seven of our unionized colleagues are being laid off at CalMatters/The Markup. We're rallying to raise the remaining ~$2,200 of our GoFundMe goal to help cushion them as they job hunt.

If you can, please consider supporting these talented journalists 👇

www.gofundme.com/f/support-la...

And if you're looking for talented, kind, sharp newsroom members, we would love to connect you with them

Donate to Support laid off CalMatters-The Markup journalists, organized by Malena Carollo Seven of our unionized colleagues at CalMatters/The Markup were noti… Malena Carollo needs your support for Support laid off CalMatters-The Markup journalists

This week was bittersweet for our union. After months of bargaining, we ratified our joint CalMatters/The Markup contract. But 7 of our members were also notified they're being laid off. We would greatly appreciate help giving them extra cushion as they job search

www.gofundme.com/f/support-la...

One reason your power bill is high: Baked-in profits that critics call excessive Public utilities can collect hundreds of millions of dollars in profits directly through fees on electric bills. Critics say it's excessive

California has some of the highest electric bills in the country. One reason for that? Baked in profits for shareholders. We did the math and found that amounts to hundreds of millions a year.

My latest for @calmatters.org👇

One reason your power bill is high: Baked-in profits that critics call excessive Public utilities can collect hundreds of millions of dollars in profits directly through fees on electric bills. Critics say it's excessive

Insightful report from @malenacarollo.bsky.social on how California's for-profit utility companies generate shareholder returns in part from a charge on customer bills calmatters.org/economy/2025...

RIP Scrat, you would've loved the Raleigh NYE ball drop

Residential Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing (Regulation Z) | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau In this final rule, the CFPB amends Regulation Z to address how the Truth in Lending Act applies to Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) transactions.

More here 👇

www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy...

One woman I spoke with lost her home bc she was unable to afford the property tax hikes from a $16k air conditioner through the program. The CFPB found that property taxes for PACE homeowners increased by about $2,700/yr, or 88%. My reporting found jumps as high $5,300, or a 600% increase /3

Tax hit: An energy efficiency finance program is trapping Florida homeowners in debt An energy efficiency finance program is trapping Florida homeowners in debt.

In 2020, I published an investigation at the @tampabaytimes.bsky.social showing that PACE loans in Tampa Bay/across Florida were saddling homeowners with unexpected costs, hefty loans, and putting them at risk of losing their homes /2

www.tampabay.com/investigatio...

CFPB Finalizes Rule to Protect Homeowners on Solar Panel Loans and Other Home Improvement Loans Paid Back Through Property Taxes | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau CFPB Finalizes Rule to Protect Homeowners on Solar Panel Loans and Other Home Improvement Loans Paid Back Through Property Taxes.

News today building on my reporting that found deep issues w/Florida's PACE program: The CFPB finalized new protections for PACE loans (state-sanctioned alternative financing for energy efficient home upgrades) around price disclosures & affordability /1

www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/new...

This is our first winter in NC after living in FL for many years. I was ready to adjust from significant heat to actual seasons, but I was not ready for the light inside me that the promise of mushroom and barley soup for lunch just lit. I am winterizing ❄️