A California lobbyist for Chevron Corp. is urging retirees of the oil company in Arizona to oppose electric-car policies here, saying the vehicles are too expensive for most people and should not be promoted.

A handful of people who either retired from Chevron or from Unocal, which Chevron acquired in 2005, have used the form letter to urge Arizona Corporation Commissioners not to require electric companies here to build electric-car charging stations.

Form letters are commonly used to lobby commissioners, but the secretive nature of this campaign has drawn criticism, including from a retiree who alerted commissioners to the lobbyist's effort.

The letters discourage electric-car infrastructure.

"Let the electric vehicle industry finance the construction of the infrastructure from which it will benefit, rather than burdening most Arizona ratepayers with the costs of supporting the electric vehicle market," wrote Sel Larsen, the president of the Arizona retirees group.

The letter-writing campaign is a response to a March document from the Corporation Commission asking electric companies in Arizona to propose how they will roll out electric-vehicle infrastructure and incorporate electric vehicles into their business.

Electric vehicles represent a big opportunity for utilities but regulators also are hopeful they can set policies that encourage people to charge their vehicles at times when demand on the power grid is low.

Secretive participation raises eyebrows

The Corporation Commission files, or "dockets," for renewable-energy issues are a common target of letter-writing campaigns from a variety of groups promoting solar and other renewable energy sources.

The renewable-energy docket in this case has many letters from people supportive of Chispa Arizona, a program of the League of Conservation Voters, who are advocating for an increase in the state renewable-energy requirements.

But Chevron's secretive participation — many letter writers don't identify themselves as retirees of the oil company — has raised eyebrows around the commission.

Court Rich, a senior partner and founder at Rose Law Group who represents various renewable-energy interests at the Corporation Commission, said it was desperate for the oil company to get involved.

"Ironically, I bet this is the same failed tactic that a desperate horse and buggy lobbyist once used to try and scare the public against gas automobiles," Rich said.

Larsen, reached by phone, said there are about 575 Chevron retirees in the Phoenix area. He was asked by Chevron's California-based lobbyist, Marian Catedral-King to get them to write letters and call the commission to oppose electric vehicles, according to an email another Chevron retiree shared with regulators.

David Newell of Scottsdale is the retiree who shared the email from the Chevron lobbyist with regulators.

Newell, who retired in 2014, said he worked for Unocal on geothermal energy projects. Because that company was acquired by Chevron, he is considered a Chevron retiree.

"It's within their rights to make their position known," Newell said. "It's unfair to enlist people without clearly identifying who they are."

He said the approach by Chevron was "disingenuous."

"It's the citizens' version of dark money," Newell said. "I find that offensive."

Catedral-King did not respond to questions via her Chevron email address.

Larsen, the president of the Arizona retirees, said it was up to individuals whether to participate.

"We are not opposed to environmental issues at all if they are fair," he said.

"If utilities are forced to provide infrastructure, then I pay for their choice of cars," Larsen said. "The government already subsidizes that industry."

Larsen said he could not comment on whether Chevron's oil operations receive any government subsidies.

Larsen used the form letter to write to the Corporation Commission on behalf of himself and his wife, and he did not identify himself as a Chevron retiree.

Rich said on Twitter the Chevron effort was "corporate rent seeking" and "AstroTurf," a term used to describe fake grassroots movements.

Retirees who wrote letters opposing program

Unocal retiree Dennis Lamb of Scottsdale heard about the campaign through an ice cream event for the group and decided to write his own letter. He actually worked on electric-car and alternative-fuel projects, and doesn't believe they have much potential.

"You need subsidies to sell these things," he said.

Another letter by W. Murray Mathews uses the Chevron form but the writer does not identify as a Chevron retiree. Neither does one from Mark and Sally Gies of Mesa.

At least one Chevron retiree, Mark Emanuele, used the letter but identified himself as a Chevron retiree.

Reach reporter Ryan Randazzo at ryan.randazzo@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4331. Follow him on Twitter @UtilityReporter.

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