Rob Nikolewski

@robnikolewski

I'm the energy reporter for the San Diego Union-Tribune @sdut and I cover oil, nat gas, renewables, nuclear, utilities and the grid.

San Diego, CA

Joined June 2010

179Following

2KFollowers

Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jul 22

It does not have the force of law, but the San Diego City Council passed a resolution today supporting 10 pieces of legislation in Sacramento aimed at reducing utility bills. Will it have any effect?: sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/07/21/wil… @sdut @CityofSanDiego @PacificResearch @SDGE

robnikolewski's tweet card. The council passes a resolution in support of 10 bills working their way through the State Capitol.

Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jul 21

A $43.5 million national ad campaign has just launched to help boost the sale of electric vehicles. You can take a look at one of the 30-second spots narrated by Nick Offerman, AKA Ron Swanson, here: sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/07/21/her… @sdut @LetsVeloz @CoxAutomotive @Nick_Offerman #EVs

robnikolewski's tweet card. The ad blitz from the Sacramento-based nonprofit Veloz comes as the federal tax credit for electric vehicles is about to expire.

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Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jul 18

California's grid operator to start using artificial intelligence in a pilot program. Here are the details: sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/07/18/ai-… @sdut @California_ISO @OATIinc @powerlinesorg #utilities #AI #ArtificialIntelligence

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Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jul 16

SDG&E warns to be on the lookout for scammers reaching out to customers via phone or text. Here's what you can do to protect yourself: sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/07/16/sdg… @sdut @SDGE #utilities #scams

robnikolewski's tweet card. The latest ruse involves sending ratepayers a fake QR code.

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Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jul 14

Gavin Newsom touts clean energy stats in California ... but utility rates remain high: sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/07/14/new… @sdut @CAgovernor @CalEnergy @californiapuc @California_ISO

robnikolewski's tweet card. More renewable sources pouring onto the state’s electric grid, but utility rates remain high.

Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jul 10

San Diego unveils a rebate program for electric appliances for city residents ... see if you meet the income requirements: sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/07/09/wan… @sdut @CityofSanDiego @ENERGY

robnikolewski's tweet card. The city of San Diego unveils the HEART program for energy-efficient upgrades for residents who meet income qualifications.

Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jul 9

What the recently passed federal mega-bill signed by President Trump means for EVs and rooftop solar: sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/07/09/wan… @sdut @iseecars @StellarSolar @SEIA @AEA @CAgovernor @WhiteHouse #EVs #SolarPower

robnikolewski's tweet card. The legislation cuts off federal tax credits for electric vehicles and residential solar by the end of the year.

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Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jul 8

EPA orders cleanup directives regarding the big battery storage fire that broke out last year at the Gateway facility in Otay Mesa: sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/07/07/epa… @sdut @EPA @REVRenewables #batteries #BatteryStorage

robnikolewski's tweet card. EPA orders the Gateway Energy Storage facility to bolster safety measures and monitoring, but the company says the agreement is nothing new.

Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jul 3

As Fourth of July approaches, the Energy Information Administration posted a cool graphic -- US energy consumption by source since 1776: eia.gov/todayinenergy/… @EIAgov #energy

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Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jul 1

California's excise tax on gasoline went up 1.6 cents per gallon today. Looking a little further out, where are gas prices in the Golden State heading? sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/07/01/how… @sdut @CalEnergy @AirResources @scianalysis @KleinmanEnergy @CAgovernor @CASenReps @CalNatResources

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Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jun 28

Closures of two refineries in California could result in an estimated increase of 15-30 cents per gallon if some changes recommended the state energy commission are not made: sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/06/27/cal…… @sdut @CalEnergy @CAgovernor @ConsumerWD @OfficialWSPA #oil #gasprices

robnikolewski's tweet card. A 24-page letter offers recommendations to Gov. Newsom. The commission also says refinery closures will add 15-30 cents to gas prices.

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Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jun 25

Here's a wacky story: A federal judge mentions The Simpsons when issuing an injunction against the Trump administration freezing funding for an EV program. San Diego also gets a shout-out: sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/06/25/san… @sdut @uscourts @USDOT @AGRobBonta @WhiteHouse @CAgovernor

robnikolewski's tweet card. A federal judge in Seattle issues injunction against Trump executive order freezing electric vehicle infrastructure program.

Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jun 24

The burning question we have each year as summer rolls in: What's the outlook for wildfires in the San Diego area? sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/06/23/abo… @sdut @SDGE #wildfires #utilities

robnikolewski's tweet card. Hottest months of the year approach as county has only received 50% of rain it typically gets.

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Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jun 20

The U.S. Supreme Court just handed down a decision on nuclear waste. What could it mean for the canisters stored at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station?: sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/06/19/the… @sdut @SCE_SONGS @SLFcommunity @USSupremeCourt #nuclearwaste

Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jun 18

Coronado is exploring whether it should join a community choice aggregation, or CCA, energy program in the San Diego area: sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/06/18/cor… @sdut @CoronadoCity @SDCommunityPwr @TheCleanEnergyA #CCA #utilities

robnikolewski's tweet card. A subcommittee will weigh the pros and cons, and will send questions to the Clean Energy Alliance and San Diego Community Power.

Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jun 18

Another self-driving tech company is conducting tests on San Diego roads: sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/06/18/wha… @sdut @nuro @Waymo @Tesla @AAA_Travel #AutonomousDriving

robnikolewski's tweet card. Another Silicon Valley tech company collects data to usher in a self-driving future.

Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jun 13

Israel's airstrike on Iran sends oil prices up ... but fuel analysts don't anticipate dramatic increases in gas prices in California: sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/06/13/fin… @sdut @StillwaterDave @OPIS @GasBuddyGuy @GasBuddy #oil #gasoline

robnikolewski's tweet card. Some experts anticipate prices rising 8 to 10 cents per gallon in the coming days.

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Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jun 11

Sempra's subsidiary lines up an agreement with Japan's biggest power generator to take LNG from its facility in Texas that's under construction: sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/06/11/jap… @sdut @SempraInfra @sempra @jeraamericas #LNG #naturalgas

robnikolewski's tweet card. Agreement comes shortly after Sempra Infrastructure received federal permit for facility in Texas.

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Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jun 9

A recent poll measured the level of support for battery storage projects among San Diego County residents. Here are some of the results: sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/06/09/how… @sdut @cleantechsd @ProbolskyRsrch #batteries #batterystorage

robnikolewski's tweet card. Survey commissioned by Cleantech San Diego shows high levels of favorability, but some question the results.

Rob Nikolewski@robnikolewski · Jun 6

Marine Group Boat Works, a Chula Vista company, recently converted a diesel tugboat to electric power: sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/06/06/thi… @sdut @MarineGroupBW @AirResources @portofsandiego

robnikolewski's tweet card. Marine Group Boat Works hopes the conversion will spur other companies to do the same