Opinion ID: 1355268
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Calpine Scheme (Counts 2, 3, and 4)

Text: In 2001, Calpine Corporation (Calpine) and Sunlaw Energy Corporation (Sunlaw) were competing to secure the right to build a power plant at a site in the Port of Stockton. [3] McFall and his partners (acting through their SMTM partnership) entered into a consulting contract with Sunlaw under which the partners stood to reap substantial financial rewards if Sunlaw obtained the right to build at the Port of Stockton site, and an even greater sum if the plant was actually built. According to the evidence, McFall and his partners sought to undermine Calpine's chances of prevailing at the Port of Stockton by mounting political opposition to another pending Calpine project in neighboring Alameda County. Calpine was in the process of securing a permit from the California Energy Commission (CEC) for its Alameda County project. McFall warned Calpine representatives that if they did not drop their bid for the Port of Stockton site, he would use his political influence to create a public outcry over the project, thereby complicating the permitting process. After Calpine declined to withdraw its bid, McFall and his partners conspired to pass a resolution through the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors raising environmental, health, and safety concerns about Calpine's Alameda County project. Dunn appeared at the meeting and denounced Calpine's project as a threat to public safety. Bedford sponsored the resolution, and it passed 4-1. The resolution was then transmitted to the CEC. The indictment charged that this conduct amounted to attempted extortion (Counts 2 and 3) and conspiracy to commit extortion (Count 4) under color of official right, in violation of the Hobbs Act.