US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

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</div><div>API wants to highlight Black and Hispanic participation. The minority groups in the coalition include the <a href="http://www.floridablackchamber.com/home.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">Florida Black Chamber of Commerce</a>, the <a href="http://www.fshcc.com/about-us" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce</a>, the <a href="http://nchispanicchamber.org/welcome/about/" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">North Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce</a>, the <a href="https://www.scachamber.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">South Carolina African American Chamber of Commerce</a>, and the <a href="https://www.vahcc.com/about-us" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce</a>, plus one minority religious organization, the Hispanic Pastors Association.Florida:In Florida, <a href="https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/opinion/point-view-offshore-energy-key-for-florida-future/Gwts67Ih9f0P1IhNOlY86M/" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">The Palm Beach Post</a> and the <a href="https://www.tallahassee.com/story/opinion/2018/06/05/offshore-energy-key-floridas-future-opinion/672835002/" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">Tallahassee Democrat</a> published a pro-drilling op-ed written by Julio Fuentes, president and CEO of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/Column-Let-s-explore-safe-offshore-drilling-off-Florida-s-coast_169287083" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">Tampa Bay Times</a> published a like-minded op-ed co-authored by Miriam Ramirez, a former member of Puerto Rico’s Senate and a co-chair of <a href="https://www.api.org/news-policy-and-issues/news/2018/06/06/bipartisan-explore-offshore-coalition-florida-supports-expanded-access" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">Explore Offshore Florida</a>, a state affiliate of API's national Explore Offshore coalition.Fuentes and Ramirez and her co-authors took figures from API’s <a href="http://www.api.org/_{/media/Files/Policy/Exploration/FL-One-Pager.pdf}" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">one-pager</a> about the benefits of drilling in Florida’s waters. Fuentes wrote (emphasis added):<blockquote style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: rgb(239, 243, 247); margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 1.5rem;">Continued offshore development would put more than 56,000 Floridians to work and add $4.5 billion per year to our economy.</blockquote>API's one-pager says (emphasis added):<blockquote style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: rgb(239, 243, 247); margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 1.5rem;">Employment in Florida due to spending by the Eastern Gulf offshore oil and natural gas industry is projected to reach over 56,000 jobs.…Contributions to Florida’s state economy due to spending on Eastern Gulf [Outer Continental Shelf] oil and natural gas exploration and development activities could be nearly $4.5 billion per year by the end of the forecast period.</blockquote>Ramirez and her co-authors wrote (emphasis added):<blockquote style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: rgb(239, 243, 247); margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 1.5rem;">Economic studies show that the industry’s spending would bring Florida $1.3 billion per year in government revenue within 20 years of opening up the area for oil and natural gas development.</blockquote>API's one-pager says (emphasis added):<blockquote style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: rgb(239, 243, 247); margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 1.5rem;">Florida could see a 37.5% share of the Eastern Coast bonuses, rents and royalties generated which are projected to reach $1.3 billion per year within 20 years.</blockquote>The Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which Fuentes runs, receives <a href="http://www.fshcc.com/trustee-directory" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">support</a> from Duke Energy and Florida Power & Light, two large utilities that are <a href="https://news.duke-energy.com/releases/duke-energy-florida-nears-completion-of-state-of-the-art-natural-gas-plant" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">building</a> <a href="https://www.fpl.com/clean-energy/natural-gas/modernization.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">natural gas-fired plants</a> in Florida. The chamber and the two utilities have backed anti-environment campaigns in the past. In 2016, the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce joined <a href="https://www.energyandpolicy.org/florida-amendment-1/" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">Duke, Florida Power & Light, and other power companies</a> in <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/numerous-florida-hispanic-chambers-of-commerce-announce-support-for-amendment-1-300343538.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">supporting</a> Amendment 1, a <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/election/article109017387.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">deceptive</a>, utility-backed ballot measure designed to restrict consumer access to rooftop solar power in Florida. The Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce also receives <a href="http://www.fshcc.com/trustee-directory" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">support</a> from Florida-based, third-party energy supplier Liberty Power, a company that recently paid a <a href="https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/New-York-State-Reaches-Settlement-With-Energy-Service-Company-That-Illegally-Deceived-Consumers-AG-479440323.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">settlement</a> to New York state for engaging in deceptive practices and is the subject of a cease-and-desist complaint <a href="http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/20180420/NEWS01/180429991/ct-targets-liberty-powers-abusive-marketing" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">filed</a> by Connecticut’s Office of Consumer Counsel for allegedly deceiving consumers.The other Florida minority group that's part of API's Explore Offshore alliance, the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce, has fossil fuel ties as well. It is closely <a href="http://www.floridablackchamber.com/sponsors---partners.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">affiliated</a> with the National Black Chamber of Commerce, which has received <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/in-smog-battle-industry-gets-help-from-unlikely-source-black-business-group/2015/09/28/8c1c7e34-63c8-11e5-9757-e49273f05f65_story.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">extensive</a> funding from fossil fuel interests including ExxonMobil and Koch Industries. The National Black Chamber notoriously <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/research/2015/06/26/national-black-chamber-of-commerce-joins-oil-in/204153" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">led minority opposition</a> to the EPA's Clean Power Plan, which would limit pollution from power plants. Eugene Franklin, president of the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce, <a href="http://agenda.myescambia.com/docs/2013/REGBCC/20130321_684/4013_Eugene%20Franklin%20Resume.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">served</a> on the board of directors of the National Black Chamber of Commerce. Both the <a href="https://nationalbcc.org/news/latest-news/2811-florida-black-chamber-solar-amendment-release" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">Florida chamber</a> and the <a href="https://www.republicreport.org/2016/national-black-chamber-of-commerce-irs-solar-amendment/" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">national chamber</a> supported the pro-utility Amendment 1 in 2016.South Carolina:In South Carolina, <a href="https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/commentary/explore-our-offshore-resources/article_40c3113c-74c8-11e8-9abc-4fe6170831cf.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">The Post and Courier</a> and <a href="https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/opinion/2018/06/26/opinion-planning-future-requires-exploring-offshore-resources/713896002/" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">The Greenville News</a> published a pro-drilling op-ed by Stephen Gilchrist, chair of the South Carolina African American Chamber of Commerce and chair of <a href="https://www.api.org/news-policy-and-issues/news/2018/06/06/bipartisan-explore-offshore-coalition-south-carolina-supports-expanded-access" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: rgba(25, 118, 210, 0.5) 0px -1px 0px inset;">Explore Offshore SC</a>, the South Carolina branch of API's Explore Offshore coalition. Gilchrist also apparently relied on API statistics in his op-ed, writing (emphasis added):</div><div>=</div>