Davis promised that he might even use the power of eminent domain to buy back the power plants from these profiteers. In other words, the careful, business-friendly Democrat was going to seize the day, by seizing the plants. Just two weeks later, Davis' populist moment appeared a distant memory. In negotiations on long-term energy contracts with the generators, Davis never brought up the threat of plant seizure, Davis' press secretary Steve Maviglio confirmed. His office is now more concerned with reassuring Wall Street that the state's credit is good.
Consumer advocates are disappointed.
Most realize that it would be difficult for the state to literally take power into its own hands. Some even acknowledged that seizures would undermine the governor's tireless efforts to appeal to business. Further, a takeover would force the state to build new plants on its own because private companies would be reluctant to invest here. Still, consumer lobbyists say Davis could have used the threat more effectively. Still, Davis appeared optimistic last week about the state's efforts to buy low-cost electricity from the very same people he had earlier called price gougers.