A coalition of environmental groups urged the California Public Utilities Commission June 9 to hold hearings to determine whether the state needs liquefied natural gas. The group, which includes Environment California, Greenpeace, Public Citizen, and several other organizations, fears the big push to get LNG projects built to process imported natural gas will undermine the pursuit of renewable energy supplies and energy efficiency. Long-term contracts for natural gas are being considered by the CPUC. Last week, commission member Loretta Lynch called for the agency to undertake hearings to assess the need for LNG (<i>Circuit</i>, June 4, 2004).