The California Tapes

International Herald Tribune:

A San Diego court ruled that 27 energy companies must hand over taped conversations of natural gas traders that Californian plaintiffs claim will prove that brazen market manipulation occurred during the state's energy crisis of 2000 and 2001.

Expletive-laden conversations of natural gas traders - in documents introduced to the court Tuesday - show disdain for Californians as "a bunch of hippies" who deserved high utility bills because strict environmental regulations kept the number of power plants in the state low.