Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Newsjock

(11,733 posts)
Tue Jun 16, 2015, 09:14 AM Jun 2015

Missoula wins legal fight to take over Mountain Water Co. (from Carlyle Group)

Source: Missoulian

Missoula won its legal fight to take ownership of Mountain Water Co. and the city’s drinking water system Monday.

In a 68-page decision, Missoula District Court Judge Karen Townsend said the city "carried its burden of proof" and showed that "its contemplated use of the water system as a municipally owned water system is more necessary than the current use as a privately owned for-profit enterprise."

... The city did try to purchase Mountain Water Co. from its owner, global equity firm The Carlyle Group, Townsend said, “and the final written offer was rejected.” It is now, she said, Missoula’s “right to acquire” the water system by exercising its power of eminent domain.

Ginny Merriam, the city’s communications director, said city officials learned of Townsend’s ruling late Monday evening. ... “We just received the judge’s order tonight before the council meeting,” said Merriam. “It was stunning.”

Read more: http://missoulian.com/news/local/missoula-wins-legal-fight-to-take-over-mountain-water-co/article_c16fa303-87fe-520e-8492-1594c00ffb98.html

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

jalan48

(13,797 posts)
4. Carlyle Group? Isn't this the Bush/Tony Blair group?
Tue Jun 16, 2015, 09:42 AM
Jun 2015

They know that if you control the people's water supply you have profits forever. Glad to see the court rule in the citizen's favor and I hope it doesn't get reversed on appeal. Some of these capitalists are no more than parasites on society, constantly looking for ways to make money by sucking the life blood out of communities.

calimary

(80,693 posts)
7. YEP. The very one. I think daddy bush stepped away from it awhile back. I suspect cosmetic reasons
Tue Jun 16, 2015, 11:21 AM
Jun 2015

for it mainly, because of his adorable little dry-drunk son's presidential aspirations. frank carlucci was chair. He was reagan's defense secretary in the waning days of that abysmal administration.

jalan48

(13,797 posts)
11. Sounds like the capitalist vampires are after our water, with the Defense Dept. running interference
Tue Jun 16, 2015, 12:19 PM
Jun 2015

hedda_foil

(16,368 posts)
14. True that. Don't forget the 100,000+ acres of Bush land over an enormous aquifer in Paraguay.
Tue Jun 16, 2015, 02:13 PM
Jun 2015

Remember, Jenna was supposed to have gone there to finalize the sale on behalf of her. daddy, W.

calimary

(80,693 posts)
15. Definitely. They're vampires and vultures BOTH.
Tue Jun 16, 2015, 02:20 PM
Jun 2015

And yes, they and other high-roller pirates ARE going to be focused on our water. They've already begun.

d_legendary1

(2,586 posts)
6. Our utilities should not be for sale!
Tue Jun 16, 2015, 10:57 AM
Jun 2015

This includes highways as well! There are so many tolls dictating the state highways in Miami that its a pain in the ass going east and west without going bankrupt!

 

staggerleem

(469 posts)
9. WOW! A Judge ruled that there's something more important than PROFIT!
Tue Jun 16, 2015, 12:14 PM
Jun 2015

Guess there's at least one Judge in Montana that hasn't been bought & paid for ... YET!

Fred Sanders

(23,946 posts)
10. In truly more progressive nations, like Canada, utilities are mostly all State-owned, not for profit
Tue Jun 16, 2015, 12:17 PM
Jun 2015

And the lights stay on, the water and gas flow, and the prices are the cheapest on the planet for domestic consumers....not to mention there is no money to corrupt politics and politicians.

No "eminent domain" court battles needed, just a healthy does of communal common sense.

"Hydro-Québec[4] is a government-owned public utility established in 1944 by the Government of Quebec. Based in Montreal, the company oversees generation, transmission and distribution of electricity for all of Quebec.

Relying almost exclusively on its sixty hydroelectric generating stations, Hydro-Québec is the largest electricity generator in Canada and the world's largest hydroelectric producer.[5][6][7] As of 2011, the combined capacity of its power stations was 35,829 megawatt (MW) and its distribution network served 4.11 million customers.[8]

The development of several large-scale hydroelectric projects which took place non-stop from the late 1940s to the mid-1990s — the Bersimis, Carillon, Manic-Outardes, Churchill Falls and the two phases of the James Bay Project — allowed Quebec to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. In 2009, primary electricity accounted for 40.05% of all energy used in the province.


http://www.hydroquebec.com/en/

Ford_Prefect

(7,817 posts)
12. It seems they don't mind private ownership of power and water as long as its south of the border.
Tue Jun 16, 2015, 01:08 PM
Jun 2015

Carlyle Group is selling Park Water to Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp, a Canadian Utilities concern.

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. is a renewable energy and regulated utility company with assets across North America. Algonquin actively invests in hydroelectric, wind and solar power facilities, and sustainable utility businesses (water, electricity and natural gas) through its two operating subsidiaries: Algonquin Power Co. and Liberty Utilities.


Liberty Utilities
Liberty Utilities operates in the following locations:

Arizona (water)
acquired Boulders Carefree Sewer Company in Carefree in 2001.[3]
acquired Gold Canyon Sewer Company in Gold Canyon in 2001[4]
acquired Bella Vista Water in Sierra Vista in 2002.[5]
acquired Litchfield Park Service Company in Avondale from Pinnacle West Capital in 2003[6]
acquired Rio Rico Utilities in Rio Rico in 2005[7]
acquired seven water companies in Whetstone and Hereford from the John McLain bankruptcy estate in 2007.[8][9]
acquired Entrada Del Oro Sewer Company in 2008.[10]

Arkansas (water)
Acquired the Arkansas operations of United Water in 2012.[11]

California (electricity)
Acquired NV Energy's California operations with Emera in 2009; bought out Emera in 2011.[12][13]

Georgia (gas)
Acquired the natural gas operation of Atmos Energy in Columbus and Gainesville in 2013[14]

Illinois (gas, water)
Acquired the water operations of Silverleaf Resorts in 2005.[15]
Acquired the natural gas operations of Atmos Energy in Illinois in 2012.[16]

Iowa (gas)
Acquired the natural gas operations of Atmos Energy in Iowa in 2012.[16]
Missouri (gas, water)
Acquired the water operations of Silverleaf Resorts in 2005.[15]
Acquired Noel Water and KMB Utilities in 2011.[17]
Acquired the natural gas operations of Atmos Energy in Missouri in 2012.[16]

New Hampshire (gas, electricity)
Acquired Granite State Electric and EnergyNorth Natural Gas from National Grid in 2012.[18][19]

Texas (water)
Acquired the water operations of Silverleaf Resorts in 2005.[15]

Massachusetts (gas)
acquired New England Gas Company in Fall River and North Attleborough from Laclede Group in 2013.[20]


Liberty Utilities is currently in the process of acquiring Park Water, which operates water systems in California and Montana, from The Carlyle Group.[21]


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algonquin_Power_&_Utilities
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Missoula wins legal fight...