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sourcewatchcf grandia below; modelled on health care town halls designed to disruptsee jack gerard
see waxman-markeyprimary on fork 4 10 21see CoCsee NERAsee alford nnbcc toms tomales?html Zierman=mike rowe proudly lists as sponsor?=<div>=</div><div>[[why only one of big 4 out front?</div><div><div style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://theintercept.com/2022/05/25/fossil-fuels-disaster-capitalism-russia-ukraine/" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none;">https://theintercept.com/2022/05/25/fossil-fuels-disaster-capitalism-russia-ukraine/</a></div><div style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="font-size: small;">BACK IN LATE 2021, as Russian President Vladimir Putin began mobilizing troops at the Ukraine border, the fossil fuel industry got its foot soldiers ready too. With the threat of Russian aggression and subsequent sanctions looming, gas prices were on the rise, and the fossil fuel industry wanted the public to know that there was only one culprit: climate policy.“There are a lot of factors at play as to why energy prices are surging,” Mike Sommers, president of the American Petroleum Institute, or API, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2022/03/08/api-ceo-mike-sommers-we-cannot-let-the-united-states-follow-the-same-path-as-europe.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box;">told CNBC</a> at the time. “But certainly one of the key factors is that the Biden administration has made an effort to reduce production in the United States. One of their first acts, for example, was cutting off the Keystone XL pipeline. One of their second acts was cutting up leasing and permitting on federal lands, and then they cut off access to ANWR,” referring to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.He gave roughly the same interview every week for months. On March 7, two weeks after the invasion of Ukraine, he repeated it again, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/video/how-russia-ukraine-fight-is-affecting-gas-prices/#x" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box;">telling</a> a CBS reporter, “You know, first they cut off the Keystone XL pipeline. Then they put a moratorium on leasing and permitting on federal lands and on offshore waters. And then they cut off supply from the Alaska natural national wildlife refuge.”[no lnx]that’s some consistent messaging! For the record, about 25 percent of fossil fuel drilling happens on public lands; the rest is entirely controlled by private companies. The fossil fuel industry is sitting on at least a decade’s worth of unused leases, so it’s unlikely that a lack of new leases has impacted current production or supply.The Keystone XL pipeline was intended to transport tar sands oil from Canada to export terminals in the Gulf of Mexico, where two-thirds of it was earmarked for non-U.S. customers. It was nowhere near functional when it was canceled: About 8 percent of the pipeline had been built, and TC Energy, the company behind the project, still needed to find $6.9 billion of the $8 billion construction cost to finish it.As for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the holy grail for U.S. oil companies, it has been off-limits to oil drilling since 1977. For a brief moment in 2017, the Trump administration reversed that, but no major oil companies — no API members — even bid on leases. These are the only pieces of climate policy Sommers continuously referred to because they’re the only ones the Biden administration has actually managed to pass, but none of them have had any impact on the current supply of domestic oil and gas in the United States or the price at the pump.But the facts don’t matter if you’re the first one to frame a story and you repeat it often enough. A new report out this week shows that consistent messaging, coordinated messengers, and a massive advertising blitz combined to deliver major policy wins to the fossil fuel industry as early as two weeks from the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.“On February 24, within hours of Putin’s invasion, I was just watching these serious patterns emerge,” said Christina Arena, a public relations and climate disinformation expert. Arena worked for the PR firm Edelman when it handled the API account, so she knows a campaign when she sees one. “API and other trade associations were echoing similar talking points immediately, anti-Biden talking points, anti-renewable energy talking points.” That kind of consistency and media training takes months, not days, to prep, she said.That prompted Arena to reach out to InfluenceMap, a think tank that tracks the influence of corporate lobbying on climate policy. InfluenceMap teamed up with Media Matters for America and Triplecheck to look into what various fossil fuel interests were saying about Russia-Ukraine and how those messages were being amplified. The organizations’ resulting report pinpoints the top messages and messengers, and how they map to big policy wins.Some of the findings are to be expected. API went big, as did Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The usual suspects amplified the industry’s messaging: Breitbart News, Fox News, conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn. All told, API placed 651 Facebook ads from the end of January to April 1, reaching more than 19 million people. On February 24, the day of the invasion, API and its network got busy. “There’s a huge peak where we get to 100 fossil fuel misinformation posts that yielded over 5 million likes, comments, and shares,” Arena noted.[“I think you could call it a disinformation-driven heist of public policy.”But there are some less expected findings too. After battling gas bans for two years, the gas side of the industry seems to have fully embraced the fact that the climate movement doesn’t see it as its friend anymore. Gas entities that joined the party include the American Gas Association (a trade group for gas utilities), Hess Corp., and Sempra Infrastructure.The types of messages were also a surprise. After a decade or so of greenwashing, the fossil fuel industry is going full culture war. The report finds three key messages across hundreds of social media posts and media appearances: American fossil fuel production ensures freedom and national security; high gas prices are caused by climate policy, and the solution is more drilling; and climate change is something only liberal “woke” elites care about.There’s also a push to convince people that some kind of Green New Deal-adjacent policy is in place and that is what’s driving up gas prices. “I think you could call it a disinformation-driven heist of public policy,” Arena said.And there’s the timeline, and the dividends this campaign has paid to the industry. By mid-March, the Energy Department was starting to grant permits to increase the volume at some liquid natural gas export terminals. “So that’s two weeks maybe from the start of the crisis,” said Faye Holder, the lead author of the InfluenceMap report. “We’ve seen a heavy, heavy use of social media, both in advertising and organic content. And then they’re feeding off of media too. A lot of the things that are retweeted by API, for instance, are Mike Sommers on Fox News.”By March 25, Biden was announcing a U.S.-European Union liquefied natural gas deal that the Trump administration had tried and failed to get done: 15 billion cubic meters in 2022, with a standing order for 50 billion cubic meters a year until 2030. “That’s just a little over four weeks. That’s a very short interval,” Arena said. “And I feel that interval should alarm lawmakers. It should alarm people in the climate community. That’s disaster capitalism.”---some lnx...but there are some less expected findings too. After battling gas bans for two years, the gas side of the industry seems to have fully embraced the fact that the climate movement doesn’t see it as its friend anymore. Gas entities that joined the party include the American Gas Association (a trade group for gas utilities), Hess Corp., and Sempra Infrastructure.The types of messages were also a surprise. After a decade or so of greenwashing, the fossil fuel industry is going full culture war. The report finds three key messages across hundreds of social media posts and media appearances: American fossil fuel production ensures freedom and national security; high gas prices are caused by climate policy, and the solution is more drilling; and climate change is something only liberal “woke” elites care about.There’s also a push to convince people that some kind of Green New Deal-adjacent policy is in place and that is what’s driving up gas prices. “I think you could call it a disinformation-driven heist of public policy,” Arena said.And there’s the timeline, and the dividends this campaign has paid to the industry. By mid-March, the Energy Department was starting to grant permits to increase the volume at some liquid natural gas export terminals. “So that’s two weeks maybe from the start of the crisis,” said Faye Holder, the lead author of the InfluenceMap report. “We’ve seen a heavy, heavy use of social media, both in advertising and organic content. And then they’re feeding off of media too. A lot of the things that are retweeted by API, for instance, are Mike Sommers on Fox News.”By March 25, Biden was announcing a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/03/25/fact-sheet-united-states-and-european-commission-announce-task-force-to-reduce-europes-dependence-on-russian-fossil-fuels/" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box;">U.S.-European Union liquefied natural gas deal</a> that the Trump administration had tried and failed to get done: 15 billion cubic meters in 2022, with a standing order for 50 billion cubic meters a year until 2030. “That’s just a little over four weeks. That’s a very short interval,” Arena said. “And I feel that interval should alarm lawmakers. It should alarm people in the climate community. That’s disaster capitalism.”
---ref<a href="https://influencemap.org/report/US-Oil-and-Gas-and-the-War-in-Ukraine-19009" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none;">https://influencemap.org/report/US-Oil-and-Gas-and-the-War-in-Ukraine-19009</a><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0.2rem; line-height: 2rem; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;">How the US oil/gas sector is using the war in Ukraine to undermine Paris-aligned climate policy</h3>See coverage in <a href="https://www.barrons.com/news/oil-gas-firms-use-ukraine-war-to-resist-climate-efforts-report-01653451507?tesla=y" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; touch-action: manipulation;">Agence France-Presse</a>, <a href="https://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/industry/energy/us-oil-and-gas-industry-capitalizing-on-ukraine-war-to-resist-clean-energy-transition-efforts" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; touch-action: manipulation;">Forbes Middle East</a>, <a href="https://www.desmog.com/2022/05/24/oil-gas-industry-ukraine-climate-policy-influencemap/" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; touch-action: manipulation;">DeSmog</a>, and <a href="https://theintercept.com/2022/05/25/fossil-fuels-disaster-capitalism-russia-ukraine/" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; touch-action: manipulation;">The Intercept</a> This research details an active effort from the US oil and gas industry use the war in Ukraine to advocate for long-standing policy asks relating to the continued expansion of oil and gas. The research looks at the month following the invasion of Ukraine on the 24th February 2022. This has happened across social media, traditional media, public presentations, investor calls, and direct interactions with America’s policymakers. This lobbying behavior mirrors that seen from the oil and gas industry following the COVID-19 crisis.The industry appears to be using a number of key narratives to push its pro-fossil fuel agenda, many of which appear to include misleading claims or misinformation. These narratives include blaming the Biden Administration's climate policies for the increase in gas prices, calling for the development of more US oil and gas to lower gas prices and increase energy security, promoting LNG as a clean solution to the US's 'allies'.These narratives are being used to push for a long-term role for oil and fossil gas in the energy mix and appear to be targeted towards specific policy demands. These include advocating for policies which encourage new and/or increased oil and gas production, and rolling back previous climate policy decisions that limited the production of oil and gas or required climate considerations in new projects.While calling for policies to increase the production of oil and gas, the oil and gas industry continues to actively oppose a number of state level policies designed to reduce the need for fossil fuels. These include opposing fossil gas bans in new buildings and electric vehicle mandates.
---report
executive Summary :
This research details an active effort from the US oil and gas industry to use the war in Ukraine to advocate for long-standing policy asks relating to the continued expansion of oil and gas. This has happened across social media, traditional media, public presentations, investor calls, and direct interactions with America’s policymakers. This research focuses on the month following the invasion of Ukraine on February 24th, 2022.  
The main actors identified in this briefing are the American Petroleum Institute, American Gas Association, National Association of Manufacturers, US Chamber of Commerce, and Consumer Energy Alliance. The lobbying evidence collected covers letters to policymakers, large social media advertising campaigns, and public statements by CEOs. The latter of which also includes speeches and media comments from company CEOs and presidents such as Mike Wirth from Chevron and Ryan Lance from ConocoPhillips.  
The research identifies several key narratives used by the industry to push a pro-fossil fuel agenda during this period. Some of these narratives, particularly those about the causes of the current crises appear to include misleading claims or elements of misinformation. These narratives include: o That the Biden Administration's climate policies have caused a decrease in the supply of oil and gas, leading to high gas prices. A similar narrative used is that the Biden Administration's policies have undermined US energy independence, making America reliant on foreign oil. Both narratives have been found to be misleading by AFP fact-checker. 
 o That the way to fix gas prices and increase energy security/independence is to increase the supply of US oil and gas, which can be achieved through favorable government policies.  o That LNG is a clean, low-carbon source of energy that can help transition the energy mix and achieve emissions reduction goals. This claim has previously been regulated against by advertising authorities in the UK for containing misleading claims. Moreover, increasing the production of oil and gas is at odds with the advice of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in its latest report "Mitigation of Climate Change". 
 InfluenceMap has seen these narratives used by CEOs of major oil and gas companies in the US, particularly during CERAWeek, a major energy conference. For example, Ryan Lance, CEO...conocoPhillips, stated that “poor energy policy, poor regulatory policy […] rapid push to renewable energy and a maligning of the of fossil fuel industry" has led to the increase in gas prices.
 These narratives have also been heavily pushed on social media. For example, between February 4th and March 31st, 2022, the American Petroleum Institute created and ran an ad campaign through its astroturf group, Energy Citizens, which consisted of 233 individual ads that were seen roughly 19.6 million times, equivalent to around 10% of all US users of Facebook (Q1 2022). All of these ads promoted 'American-made energy' or 'energy independence'. 
These narratives are being used to push for a long-term role for oil and fossil gas in the energy mix.The companies and industry associations identified in the research appear to have targeted the following policy issues: 
o Introducing measures that encourage new and/or increased oil and gas production. o Rolling back previous policy decisions that limit the production of oil and gas or introduce considerations for climate change in approval processes for oil and gas production. o Opposing current state-level policies that would reduce the need for oil and gas and alleviate pressures stemming from demand for oil and gas. 
Recent wins for the US oil and gas industry resulting from this lobbying include the rollback of the FERC's proposal to consider climate change when permitting new gas projects on March 24th 2022, and the approval of two new LNG export terminals on March 16th 2022.]]

</div><div style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">=</div></div>=official BS
<a href="https://energycitizens.org/">https://energycitizens.org/</a>gulf mex, NY ban 4 22
aug 2020<p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 34px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%;">recently, millions of Californians suffered under <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kcra.com%2Farticle%2Fcalifornia-rolling-blackouts-pge-wednesday%2F33616300&data=02%7C01%7C%7C1ecebfc523704c6e9f8f08d8445c89cf%7C2df2418fe75f46f0898d65f4eeecb14b%7C0%7C0%7C637334511520988675&sdata=BMGIcFUbj2o9rOijDX3bKBye2BYJJQ8eeGp%2Fp7RRqg0%3D&reserved=0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; hyphens: auto;">rolling blackouts</a> amid soaring temperatures as electrical utilities struggled to meet skyrocketing demand. During daylight hours, California has a surplus of solar energy. But power demand remained high after sunset – higher than what could be generated.<p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 34px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%;">This results in no small part from a <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fleginfo.legislature.ca.gov%2Ffaces%2FbillNavClient.xhtml%3Fbill_id%3D201720180SB100&data=02%7C01%7C%7C1ecebfc523704c6e9f8f08d8445c89cf%7C2df2418fe75f46f0898d65f4eeecb14b%7C0%7C0%7C637334511520998666&sdata=zv5U3WIgOR92OS9W1djQKP0mvRXFMK7xw4g6VxCjNxg%3D&reserved=0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; hyphens: auto;">state-legislated mandate</a> that 60% of its electricity come from renewables by 2030. Understandably, that and green energy subsidies have worked against natural gas- and nuclear-fueled generation. The practical effect – <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.caiso.com%2Finformed%2FPages%2FNotifications%2FNoticeLog.aspx&data=02%7C01%7C%7C1ecebfc523704c6e9f8f08d8445c89cf%7C2df2418fe75f46f0898d65f4eeecb14b%7C0%7C0%7C637334511521008664&sdata=kpfz7%2BUzb%2BQRmGKiDK6%2BUAIe%2Bt6RLrxljsaGLAV%2BNDE%3D&reserved=0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; hyphens: auto;">blackouts during a heat wave</a> – has been quite clear, leaving Californians simmering.<ul style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 75px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 34px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; max-width: 840px; overflow: hidden;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 30px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: none; position: relative;">During a press conference, <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fakoseff%2Fstatus%2F1295440093335830528%3Fs%3D20&data=02%7C01%7C%7C1ecebfc523704c6e9f8f08d8445c89cf%7C2df2418fe75f46f0898d65f4eeecb14b%7C0%7C0%7C637334511521008664&sdata=VUuRRD0hP86AWJ2w0KlIerajARfppZlHNSDID4BOH00%3D&reserved=0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; hyphens: auto;">Gov. Gavin Newsom reportedly said</a> the transition away from fossil fuels has left California with a gap in the reliability of its energy system. He says the state must examine its reliance on solar power and how that fits into its broader energy portfolio.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 30px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: none; position: relative;"><a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mercurynews.com%2F2020%2F08%2F17%2Fcalifornia-blackouts-expose-problems-in-states-transition-to-clean-energy%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C1ecebfc523704c6e9f8f08d8445c89cf%7C2df2418fe75f46f0898d65f4eeecb14b%7C0%7C0%7C637334511521008664&sdata=Ok9ZWx92smZckX%2FKt6SUxU3OugJ1quONqXsf6l3j4fk%3D&reserved=0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; hyphens: auto;">The Mercury News</a> (San Jose): “[A]s the state continues its historic shift away from fossil fuels like natural gas that provide consistent power toward cleaner sources like solar and wind energy that rise and fall with the weather and the sun, experts say the power grid has become more difficult to operate and more at risk of blackouts. … Not only are millions of people who are working from home during the coronavirus pandemic inconvenienced, but power shutoffs endanger public health, particularly elderly residents who can fall ill or die from heat stroke.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 30px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: none; position: relative;"><a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Fcalifornias-blackout-warning-11597606724%3Fmod%3Dopinion_lead_pos2&data=02%7C01%7C%7C1ecebfc523704c6e9f8f08d8445c89cf%7C2df2418fe75f46f0898d65f4eeecb14b%7C0%7C0%7C637334511521018657&sdata=LkMfmUHEs8hdAhjbPAu5FIaJ750VxRxanB9bw7TbM7c%3D&reserved=0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; hyphens: auto;">Wall Street Journal editorial</a>: “Electricity blackouts are awful at any time, but especially during an extreme heat wave and for reasons that are man-made. That’s what millions in California have been enduring in recent days, and their plight is a warning to the rest of America about the risks of Green New Deal policies.”</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 30px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: none; position: relative;">California ISO Board Chairman <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.spglobal.com%2Fmarketintelligence%2Fen%2Fnews-insights%2Flatest-news-headlines%2Fcalif-grid-operator-says-generation-shortfall-may-prompt-more-blackouts-59964845&data=02%7C01%7C%7C1ecebfc523704c6e9f8f08d8445c89cf%7C2df2418fe75f46f0898d65f4eeecb14b%7C0%7C0%7C637334511521018657&sdata=igb9ZgVTo8X9PCoa1nEGvvzy%2BPgk5B%2F5ghldm8A%2Fi0c%3D&reserved=0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; hyphens: auto;">David Olsen</a>, on the need for more flexible power (which natural gas can provide) the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant due to shut down in the next few years: “We need to start now to get additional resources to cover the loss of Diablo Canyon.”</li></ul><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 34px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%;">Natural gas provides reliable, clean and affordable fuel to generate electricity and is the primary reason the U.S. has reduced carbon dioxide emissions more than any other nation since 2000, according to the <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iea.org%2Farticles%2Fglobal-co2-emissions-in-2019&data=02%7C01%7C%7C1ecebfc523704c6e9f8f08d8445c89cf%7C2df2418fe75f46f0898d65f4eeecb14b%7C0%7C0%7C637334511521028654&sdata=Y72Mz3drhI1%2B9aCKeYQLcdVTJ9QLWUXHHZ8cZ%2FFgWrQ%3D&reserved=0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; hyphens: auto;">International Energy Agency</a>.<p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 34px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%;">The capacity of natural gas to <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.api.org%2Fnews-policy-and-issues%2Fblog%2F2017%2F09%2F26%2Fon-energy-let-markets-choose&data=02%7C01%7C%7C1ecebfc523704c6e9f8f08d8445c89cf%7C2df2418fe75f46f0898d65f4eeecb14b%7C0%7C0%7C637334511521038648&sdata=wqCFYK8xtwkP6ovM%2Fj6c0wGS6q3o5QRguknd9OvbCTQ%3D&reserved=0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; hyphens: auto;">start immediately and ramp up rapidly</a>, its overall resilience and other qualities also make it an essential partner for the growth of intermittent renewable energy – an especially important point to folks living in the Golden State right now. <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FAPIenergy%2Fstatus%2F1156670504599793664&data=02%7C01%7C%7C1ecebfc523704c6e9f8f08d8445c89cf%7C2df2418fe75f46f0898d65f4eeecb14b%7C0%7C0%7C637334511521038648&sdata=RNNVh0v%2B2olaVWP%2BgzMliHfTiDLtLySf487hIbveTUI%3D&reserved=0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; hyphens: auto;">Ernest Moniz</a>, U.S. Energy secretary under President Obama, said natural gas “is the only reason California has survived” the times when renewable energy failed to reliably generate power.<ul style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 75px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 34px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; max-width: 840px; overflow: hidden;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 30px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: none; position: relative;"><a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DM-wnN-zthLY%26feature%3Dyoutu.be&data=02%7C01%7C%7C1ecebfc523704c6e9f8f08d8445c89cf%7C2df2418fe75f46f0898d65f4eeecb14b%7C0%7C0%7C637334511521038648&sdata=ddsAUE4wbn%2FW%2Fj7Y1z6zaniyh2VKYO2o1tvPSBvw8Hk%3D&reserved=0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; hyphens: auto;">Dustin Meyer</a>, API director of Market Development: “What we have now is more than a decade’s worth of evidence showing that displacing coal with a combination of low-cost, natural gas and increasingly affordable, renewable energy is a fantastic winning recipe for rapid and significant emissions reductions.</li></ul><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 34px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%;">These benefits can be global via exported U.S. natural gas – which has the potential to change the lives of <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iea.org%2Fcommentaries%2Fpopulation-without-access-to-electricity-falls-below-1-billion&data=02%7C01%7C%7C1ecebfc523704c6e9f8f08d8445c89cf%7C2df2418fe75f46f0898d65f4eeecb14b%7C0%7C0%7C637334511521048645&sdata=M6LtnznCmw%2BhvVFM5ldteu07tWqvdlhtdX%2F2R0s%2FI4o%3D&reserved=0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; hyphens: auto;">nearly 1 billion people</a> around the world without access to electricity and <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iea.org%2Fcommentaries%2Fpopulation-without-access-to-electricity-falls-below-1-billion&data=02%7C01%7C%7C1ecebfc523704c6e9f8f08d8445c89cf%7C2df2418fe75f46f0898d65f4eeecb14b%7C0%7C0%7C637334511521048645&sdata=M6LtnznCmw%2BhvVFM5ldteu07tWqvdlhtdX%2F2R0s%2FI4o%3D&reserved=0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; hyphens: auto;">nearly 2.7 billion</a> who still rely on biomass for indoor cooking and heating.<ul style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 75px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 34px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; max-width: 840px; overflow: hidden;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 30px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: none; position: relative;">In India approximately <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloomberg.com%2Fnews%2Ffeatures%2F2017-01-24%2Fliving-in-the-dark-240-million-indians-have-no-electricity&data=02%7C01%7C%7C1ecebfc523704c6e9f8f08d8445c89cf%7C2df2418fe75f46f0898d65f4eeecb14b%7C0%7C0%7C637334511521058636&sdata=C9FsKQy7FbgcdetLs6gFUBP660ZadEl8U29DxQ%2Fv8eo%3D&reserved=0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; hyphens: auto;">240 million people</a> – equivalent to 70% of the U.S. population – do not have reliable access to electricity. In New Dehli, where 22 million people live, only <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fqz.com%2F1675017%2Fthe-next-big-disruption-in-air-conditioning-will-be-tested-in-india%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C1ecebfc523704c6e9f8f08d8445c89cf%7C2df2418fe75f46f0898d65f4eeecb14b%7C0%7C0%7C637334511521058636&sdata=Zv%2FNufdLWdEKv30sBg92YCeBo%2Be5%2Fyg2bb%2BwHKEy8%2FM%3D&reserved=0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; hyphens: auto;">about 5% of the population</a> has access to air conditioning during summer, when the average temperature is 103 degrees.</li></ul><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 34px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%;">Summer heat underscores the need for reliable power generation – in California, where they’re weathering rolling blackouts, and around the world where energy poverty translates into daily struggle. Natural gas is dependable, clean and economical – as the leading fuel in power generation in this country and in partnership with renewable energy, filling in when wind and solar are unavailable. Exported liquefied natural gas can provide game-changing opportunity for others around the globe.=desmog<h3 id="h-energy-citizens" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; line-height: 1.2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Energy Citizens</h3>Starting in 2009, the API <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150811025505/http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/08/11/lobby-groups-to-use-town-hall-tactics-to-oppose-climate-bill/" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">led a coalition</a> called “<a href="http://energycitizens.org/" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">Energy Citizens</a>” and held rallies opposing the Waxman-Markey Climate Bill, targeting states “whose Democratic Senators aren’t strong supporters of a stringent bill, such as […] Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Mark Begich of Alaska.” <a href="https://www.desmog.com/american-petroleum-institute/#s25" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[25]</a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120115231953/http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2009/08/19/the-browning-of-grassroots.html" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">According to Newsweek</a>, API asked regional companies to urge their employees to participate in planned protests. A leaked memo revealed that “The objective of these rallies is to put a human face on the impacts of unsound energy policy and to aim a loud message at [20 different] states.” <a href="https://www.desmog.com/american-petroleum-institute/#s26" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[26]</a><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/08/12/12greenwire-energy-citizens-take-aim-at-climate-legislatio-54732.html" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">“Energy Citizens” is also supported</a> by the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/National_Association_of_Manufacturers" data-wpel-link="external" target="blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Farm_Bureau_Federation" data-wpel-link="external" target="blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">American Farm Bureau</a>, American Highway Users Alliance, <a href="https://www.desmog.com/national-black-chamber-commerce" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC)</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Small_Business_Survival_Committee" data-wpel-link="external" target="blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council,</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=FreedomWorks" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">FreedomWorks</a>,[hot air tour?] <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Conservative_Union" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">American Conservative Union</a>, <a href="https://www.desmog.com/americans-tax-reform" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">Americans for Tax Reform</a>, and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Council_for_Citizens_Against_Government_Waste" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">Council for Citizens Against Government Waste</a>. <a href="https://www.desmog.com/american-petroleum-institute/#s27" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[27]</a>According to O’Dwyer’s Magazine, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150811032857/http://www.odwyerpr.com/editorial/0201the-politics-of-climate-change.html" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">in a February 2010 article titled “The Politics of Climate Change</a>,”“The group has loudly protested the EPA’s decision to have greenhouse gas emissions regulated under the Clean Air Act. API members include Chevron, ConocoPhillips,Exxon Mobil, GE, Halliburton and Shell.” <a href="https://www.desmog.com/american-petroleum-institute/#s28" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[28]</a>Template fliers for the “Energy Citizens” rallies warned that “Climate change legislation being considered in Washington will cause huge economic pain and produce little environmental gain.” They additionally claimed the Waxman-Markey Climate Bill would “cost 2 million American jobs, raise gasoline and diesel prices up to $4.”<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150811033432/http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/08/11/lobby-groups-to-use-town-hall-tactics-to-oppose-climate-bill/" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">The EPA estimated the bill would cost U.S. households “about a postage stamp a day,” </a>while the Energy Information Administration projected annual “energy bill costs could rise between $26 per household to $362 by 2020.” <a href="https://www.desmog.com/american-petroleum-institute/#s29" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[29]</a>The company Democracy, Data & Communications (DDC), <a href="https://www.desmog.com/wp-content/uploads/files/API%20Case%20Study%20-%20DDC%20Public%20Affairs.pdf" data-wpel-link="external" target="blank" rel="external noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">wrote in a case study</a> that it “has actively partnered with the American Petroleum Institute (API) for years, designing, executing, and managing all facets of their key national advocacy program” and was “asked with creating an on-the-ground campaign focused on raising the prole of Energy Citizens in support of natural gas production from the ‘Marcellus Shale’ formation in Pennsylvania.” <a href="https://www.desmog.com/american-petroleum-institute/#s64" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[64]</a>DDC said it helped to convene two roundtable meetings with local congressional representatives for the Energy Citizens campaign, as well as get 170 letters of support published and sent to Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale Commission. According to IRS tax filings reviewed by DeSmog, API paid DDC $29.3 million for its work between 2011 and 2015, <a href="https://www.desmog.com/2017/06/14/your-energy-america-ddc-advocacy-atlantic-coast-pipeline" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">DeSmog reported.</a> <a href="https://www.desmog.com/american-petroleum-institute/#s65" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[65]</a>DDC has also worked with the tobacco company Phillip Morris on a website fighting against tobacco regulation. DDC is also an Associate Member of the <a href="https://www.desmog.com/edison-electric-institute" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">Edison Electric Institute (EEI), </a>which has also paid DDC at least $1.8 million since 2012 for PR work according to the IRS. <a href="https://www.desmog.com/american-petroleum-institute/#s65" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[65]</a><h3 id="h-energytomorrow-org" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; line-height: 1.2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">EnergyTomorrow.org</h3>=newer incarnation (in donors trust video, no cites) cute nat gas lady ads ubiquitous
 <a href="http://energytomorrow.org/?gclid=CKTjyoWRkbcCFcuj4AodbQgACQ">http://energytomorrow.org/?gclid=CKTjyoWRkbcCFcuj4AodbQgACQ</a> 
eg
 <h2><a href="http://energytomorrow.org/blog/good-words-on-regulatory-certainty1/">Good Words on Regulatory Certainty </a></h2>New Interior Department Secretary Sally Jewell is on the right track in her <a href="http://fuelfix.com/blog/2013/05/08/interior-secretary-to-oil-industry-dont-throw-regulators-under-the-bus/" target="blank">remarks at this week’s Offshore Technology Conference in Houston</a>, committing Interior to providing “regulatory certainty, predictability (and) consistency” in oil and natural gas development. This is critical to reverse recent declining development in federal areas. According to the <a href="http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/206136.pdf" target="blank">Congressional Research Service</a>, while oil production in non-federal areas was up 2009 to 2012, in federal areas it was down 6 percent:links to info co: http://www.ihs.com/index.aspx
 also link to <a href="http://energynation.org/">http://energynation.org/</a>
 has link logo to:<a href="http://energycitizens.org/ec/advocacy/default.aspx">http://energycitizens.org/ec/advocacy/default.aspx</a> "b/c energy is our way of life" pimping BO on XL, libya?"citizenship" tag asks contact info to be "key"~ CAFE 
 <h3 class="blog-post-title">RFS 'Irretrievably Broken'</h3>Posted April 9, 2013Cross posted from Mark on the Energy Tomorrow blog, detailing the study conducted by the NERA about the implementation of the RFS.A <a target="blank">new study</a> by NERA Economic Consulting details severe impacts that could result by 2015 from continued implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and its market-distorting biofuels mandates:<ul><li>An almost $800 billion decrease in the U.S. economy, as measured by GDP.</li><li>$500 billion decrease in take-home pay for American workers.</li><li>300 percent increase in the cost of making diesel.</li><li>30 percent increase in the cost of making gasoline, which could result in rationing and other disruptions in the transportation sector.</li><li>Greater impetus for the export of refined petroleum products.</li></ul>----<a href="https://energycitizens.org/issues/pipelines-infrastructure/">https://energycitizens.org/issues/pipelines-infrastructure/</a>
vid decades of progress"]BS<p style="margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 34px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; text-align: justify !important;">pipelines are a vital part of America’s energy revolution, providing effective, safe, and affordable transportation for natural gas and other fuels, often over great distances. Pipelines are regarded as one of the safest ways to transport fuel compared to alternatives such as tanker trucks or train cars. Utilizing the latest technologies and practices, robust industry safety measures and smart government oversight ensures that existing and new pipeline infrastructure can be operated in a manner that protects the communities and environment in which they operate. These same factors also make pipelines a reliable means to deliver the energy people use every day without interruption and in the most affordable manner possible.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 34px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; text-align: justify !important;">Unfortunately, there have been many misguided efforts to push back against pipeline operations.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 34px; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; text-align: justify !important;">This summer, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline was suddenly canceled after spending years bogged down in politics and legal challenges brought about by opponents, many of whom had an anti-oil and natural gas agenda rather than legitimate concerns about the pipeline itself. These groups are manipulating the permitting processes–such as National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the <span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">Nationwide Permit—to present challenges to the future of safely transporting energy across the country. In the end, it’s the people that depend on this energy and work on these projects that pay. This project would have supported <span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box;">17,000 jobs and brought $2.7 billion in economic activity in communities from West Virginia to North Carolina. The pipeline also had broad support from labor unions such as the North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU). For America’s energy revolution to continue, we will need to use every tool [including mike rowe] at our disposal. This includes tested and proven technology like safe and secure pipelines.=1021 1021 grab ft page<a href="https://energycitizens.org/">https://energycitizens.org/</a>Energy Citizens logoAction CenterExplore EnergyYour LegislatorsJoin UsEnergy CitizensFrom all 50 States, we come together to make our voices heard. American natural gas and oil are solving big challenges and bringing us a better tomorrow. See and hear the stories of Energy Citizens just like you.Days since President Biden “temporarily” banned new federal oil & gas leases:262 days, 23 hours
Act NowView All CampaignsView More Our MissionWe are passionate and determined to see our nation develop balanced energy policies that strengthen our communities, support our families and make our nation more secure. We encourage discussion about our nation’s energy issues.Join UsExplore Your StateFind out how to help support your state by selecting it below.Select..Stay ConnectedSocialExplore By StateLearn about the energy issues that impact your community by clicking on your state or selecting an item from the dropdown menu.Select State
Choose a StateDiscover the TopicsLearn about the energy topics that impact your community.The Cleanest Air in 25 YearsSafety FirstRenewable Fuel StandardOffshore EnergyNatural GasHydraulic FracturingView All TopicsIndustry NewsThe Shortsightedness Of Biden’s Federal Leasing BanNewsRead MoreThe Permian Basin’s Production Benefits Permeate Throughout TexasBlogsRead MoreRolling Blackouts Darken Golden State’s ShimmerBlogsRead MorePittsburgh Post-Gazette Editorial: Biden’s confusing stand on frackingNewsRead MoreView More Energy Citizens logoJoin UsCitizens Like You, Raising Their Voices.Stay ConnectedAPI logoEFP logo©2020 Energy Citizens. Paid for by the American Petroleum Institute.Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy=wp on api:<h3>"Energy Citizens" rallies</h3>In August 2009, an API-led coalition called <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens" title="Energy Citizens">"Energy Citizens"</a> announced plans to hold rallies opposing the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Waxman-Markey_Climate_Bill" title="Waxman-Markey Climate Bill">Waxman-Markey Climate Bill</a> in about 20 states, targeting states "whose Democratic Senators aren't strong supporters of a stringent bill, such ... <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Sherrod_Brown" title="Sherrod Brown">Sherrod Brown</a> of Ohio and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Mark_Begich" title="Mark Begich">Mark Begich</a> of Alaska." <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Petroleum_Institute#cite_note-WSJrallies-0" title="">[1]</a> In addition to API, "Energy Citizens" has backing from the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Association_of_Manufacturers" title="National Association of Manufacturers">National Association of Manufacturers</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Farm_Bureau" title="American Farm Bureau" class="mw-redirect">American Farm Bureau</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Highway_Users_Alliance&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="American Highway Users Alliance (page does not exist)">American Highway Users Alliance</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Black_Chamber_of_Commerce&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="National Black Chamber of Commerce (page does not exist)">National Black Chamber of Commerce</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Small_Business_and_Entrepreneurship_Council&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (page does not exist)">Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=FreedomWorks" title="FreedomWorks">FreedomWorks</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Conservative_Union" title="American Conservative Union">American Conservative Union</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_for_Tax_Reform" title="Americans for Tax Reform">Americans for Tax Reform</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Council_for_Citizens_Against_Government_Waste" title="Council for Citizens Against Government Waste">Council for Citizens Against Government Waste</a>. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Petroleum_Institute#cite_note-1" title="">[2]</a>------ swEnergy Citizens is a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Front_groups" title="Front groups">front group</a> backed by the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Petroleum_Institute" title="American Petroleum Institute">American Petroleum Institute</a>, the main trade group and lobbying arm of the oil industry, to fight <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Waxman-Markey_Climate_Bill" title="Waxman-Markey Climate Bill">climate change legislation</a> currently working its way through Congress.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_note-nyt-0" title="">[1]</a> The official website describes the group as a "nationwide alliance of organizations and individuals formed to bring together people across America to remind Congress that energy is the backbone of our nation’s economy and our way of life."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_note-1" title="">[2]</a> A look at the participating organizations, however, shows a long list of oil, coal, and transportation interests.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_note-who-2" title="">[3]</a><table id="toc" class="toc" summary="Contents"><tbody><tr><td><div id="toctitle"><h2>
</h2></div><ul><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#Protests_against_climate_legislation">1 Protests against climate legislation</a></li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#Member_organizations">2 Member organizations</a></li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#Contact_information">3 Contact information</a></li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#Resources_and_articles">4 Resources and articles</a><ul><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#Related_SourceWatch_Articles">4.1 Related SourceWatch Articles</a></li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#References">4.2 References</a></li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#External_resources">4.3 External resources</a></li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#External_articles">4.4 External articles</a></li></ul></li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2>Protests against climate legislation</h2>In August 2009, Energy Citizens began organizing rallies against the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which passed the House by a vote of 219-212 in June.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_note-nyt-0" title="">[1]</a> The group describes the bill as "a badly flawed 1,427-page piece of legislation that will drive up the price of energy, deter American job creation and send jobs overseas and bring greater stress to a still struggling economy." Instead, its members "support policies that promote jobs and affordable energy for American consumers and businesses."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_note-3" title="">[4]</a><div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 300px;"><div class="thumbcaption"><div class="thumbcaption">Public Citizen coverage of the Houston rally</div></div></div></div>Hundreds of people attended its first rally in Houston. However, most were oil company employees, who were bused in at lunch time from their nearby offices. According to the New York Times, the protest was "as much a celebration of oil’s traditional role in the Texas way of life as it was a political protest against Washington’s energy policies."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_note-nyt-0" title="">[1]</a> Rally fliers warned, "Climate change legislation being considered in Washington will cause huge economic pain and produce little environmental gain." The fliers also claim that the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Waxman-Markey_Climate_Bill" title="Waxman-Markey Climate Bill">Waxman-Markey Climate Bill</a> would "cost 2 million American jobs, raise gasoline and diesel prices up to $4." In contrast, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the bill would cost U.S. households "about a postage stamp a day," while the Energy Information Administration projects that annual "energy bill costs could rise between $26 per household to to $362 by 2020."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_note-Talley-4" title="">[5]</a>The rally was the first of about 20 the group is planning for Southern and oil-producing states to try to promote resistance to the new legislation.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_note-nyt-0" title="">[1]</a> The rallies are planned during during August, targeting states "whose Democratic Senators aren't strong supporters of a stringent bill, such as ... <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Sherrod_Brown" title="Sherrod Brown">Sherrod Brown</a> of Ohio and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Mark_Begich" title="Mark Begich">Mark Begich</a> of Alaska."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_note-Talley-4" title="">[5]</a><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Greenpeace" title="Greenpeace">Greenpeace</a> obtained an email from API head <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jack_Gerard" title="Jack Gerard" class="mw-redirect">Jack Gerard</a> to members and allied companies. In it, Gerard urges "all API members to get involved," especially by making a "commitment to provide significant attendance" to API-organized "Energy Citizen" rallies. "API will provide the up-front resources," Gerard stresses, including by "contracting with a highly experienced events management company that has produced successful rallies for presidential campaigns, corporations and interest groups." Gerard also boasts that "our messages on <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Waxman-Markey_Climate_Bill" title="Waxman-Markey Climate Bill">Waxman-Markey-like legislation</a> work extremely well" in opinion polls. API's messages are discredited claims that the bill will cause energy prices to soar and "lead to significant job losses." API's rally plans have underscored divisions within the oil industry. API members <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Shell" title="Shell">Shell</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=BP" title="BP">BP</a> "are also members of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S.Climate_Action_Partnership" title="U.S. Climate Action Partnership" class="mw-redirect">U.S. Climate Action Partnership</a>, which has supported a '<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Cap_and_trade" title="Cap and trade" class="mw-redirect">cap and trade</a>' approach," notes the Washington Post. "Spokesmen for both companies said yesterday they would not participate in the 'Energy Citizen' rallies."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_note-5" title="">[6]</a>
[4 22 no changeThe rally was the first of about 20 the group is planning for Southern and oil-producing states to try to promote resistance to the new legislation.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Energy_Citizens#cite_note-nyt-1" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[1]</a> The rallies are planned during during August, targeting states "whose Democratic Senators aren't strong supporters of a stringent bill, such as ... <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Sherrod_Brown&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Sherrod Brown (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Sherrod Brown</a> of Ohio and <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Mark_Begich&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Mark Begich (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Mark Begich</a> of Alaska."<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Energy_Citizens#cite_note-Talley-8" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[8]</a><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Greenpeace" title="Greenpeace" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Greenpeace</a> obtained an email from API head <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jack_Gerard" class="mw-redirect" title="Jack Gerard" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Jack Gerard</a> to members and allied companies. In it, Gerard urges "all API members to get involved," especially by making a "commitment to provide significant attendance" to API-organized "Energy Citizen" rallies. "API will provide the up-front resources," Gerard stresses, including by "contracting with a highly experienced events management company that has produced successful rallies for presidential campaigns, corporations and interest groups." Gerard also boasts that "our messages on <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Waxman-Markey_Climate_Bill" title="Waxman-Markey Climate Bill" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Waxman-Markey-like legislation</a> work extremely well" in opinion polls. API's messages are discredited claims that the bill will cause energy prices to soar and "lead to significant job losses." API's rally plans have underscored divisions within the oil industry. API members <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Shell" title="Shell" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Shell</a> and <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=BP" title="BP" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">BP</a> "are also members of the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=U.S.Climate_Action_Partnership" class="mw-redirect" title="U.S. Climate Action Partnership" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">U.S. Climate Action Partnership</a>, which has supported a '<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Cap_and_trade" class="mw-redirect" title="Cap and trade" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">cap and trade</a>' approach," notes the Washington Post. "Spokesmen for both companies said yesterday they would not participate in the 'Energy Citizen' rallies."<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Energy_Citizens#cite_note-9" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[9]</a><h2 linux="Linux" libertine="Libertine" georgia="Georgia" times="Times" serif="serif" line-height="line-height" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177);">Member organizations]]]</h2><a name="Member_organizations" id="Member_organizations"> </a><h2>Member organizations</h2>The following is a partial list of participating trade and industry organizations. The full list is available <a href="http://energycitizens.org/about/participating-organizations/" class="external text" title="http://energycitizens.org/about/participating-organizations/" rel="nofollow">here</a>.<ul><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Agribusiness_Council_of_Indiana&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Agribusiness Council of Indiana (page does not exist)">Agribusiness Council of Indiana</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Alpha_Bioscience_Company&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Alpha Bioscience Company (page does not exist)">Alpha Bioscience Company</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Conservative_Union" title="American Conservative Union">American Conservative Union</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Highway_Users_Alliance&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="American Highway Users Alliance (page does not exist)">American Highway Users Alliance</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Trucking_Associations&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="American Trucking Associations (page does not exist)">American Trucking Associations</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Petroleum_Institute" title="American Petroleum Institute">American Petroleum Institute</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Associated_Food_and_Petroleum_Dealers&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers (page does not exist)">Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Basic_Energy_Services&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Basic Energy Services (page does not exist)">Basic Energy Services</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Canoe_Valley_Limestone&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Canoe Valley Limestone (page does not exist)">Canoe Valley Limestone</a>, LLC</li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Coalition_for_Affordable_American_Energy&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Coalition for Affordable American Energy (page does not exist)">Coalition for Affordable American Energy</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Consumer_Energy_Alliance_of_Florida&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Consumer Energy Alliance of Florida (page does not exist)">Consumer Energy Alliance of Florida</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Dawn_Trucking_Company&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Dawn Trucking Company (page does not exist)">Dawn Trucking Company</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Florida_Minerals_and_Chemistry_Council&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Florida Minerals and Chemistry Council (page does not exist)">Florida Minerals and Chemistry Council</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Florida_Petroleum_Marketers%26_Convenience_Store_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Florida Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association (page does not exist)">Florida Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Florida_Trucking_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Florida Trucking Association (page does not exist)">Florida Trucking Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=FreedomWorks" title="FreedomWorks">FreedomWorks</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Gas_Analysis_Service&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Gas Analysis Service (page does not exist)">Gas Analysis Service</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Hercules_Oilfield_Construction&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Hercules Oilfield Construction (page does not exist)">Hercules Oilfield Construction</a>, Inc.</li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=High_Desert_Valve_and_Equipment_Co.&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="High Desert Valve and Equipment Co. (page does not exist)">High Desert Valve and Equipment Co.</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Hoosier_Energy_Forum&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Hoosier Energy Forum (page does not exist)">Hoosier Energy Forum</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Illinois_Energy_Forum&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Illinois Energy Forum (page does not exist)">Illinois Energy Forum</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Illinois_Coal_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Illinois Coal Association (page does not exist)">Illinois Coal Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Illinois_Petroleum_Marketers_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association (page does not exist)">Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Independent_Petroleum_Association_of_America" title="Independent Petroleum Association of America">Independent Petroleum Association of America</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Keystone_Energy_Forum&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Keystone Energy Forum (page does not exist)">Keystone Energy Forum</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Lane_Electric_Motor_Service&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Lane Electric Motor Service (page does not exist)">Lane Electric Motor Service</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Lignite_Energy_Council" title="Lignite Energy Council">Lignite Energy Council</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=M%26R_Trucking&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="M&R Trucking (page does not exist)">M&R Trucking</a> Inc.</li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Michigan_Manufacturers_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Michigan Manufacturers Association (page does not exist)">Michigan Manufacturers Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Michigan_Petroleum_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Michigan Petroleum Association (page does not exist)">Michigan Petroleum Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Michigan_Trucking_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Michigan Trucking Association (page does not exist)">Michigan Trucking Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Mid-West_Truckers_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Mid-West Truckers Association (page does not exist)">Mid-West Truckers Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Missouri_Energy_Forum&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Missouri Energy Forum (page does not exist)">Missouri Energy Forum</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Moberg%E2%80%99s_Oilfield_Service&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Moberg’s Oilfield Service (page does not exist)">Moberg’s Oilfield Service</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Mr.Electric&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Mr. Electric (page does not exist)">Mr. Electric</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Ocean_Industries_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="National Ocean Industries Association (page does not exist)">National Ocean Industries Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Petrochemical_and_Refiners_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (page does not exist)">National Petrochemical and Refiners Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=New_Mexico_Energy_Forum&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="New Mexico Energy Forum (page does not exist)">New Mexico Energy Forum</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=North_Carolina_Petroleum_and_Convenience_Marketers_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="North Carolina Petroleum and Convenience Marketers Association (page does not exist)">North Carolina Petroleum and Convenience Marketers Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=North_Dakota_Energy_Forum&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="North Dakota Energy Forum (page does not exist)">North Dakota Energy Forum</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=North_Dakota_Motor_Carriers_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="North Dakota Motor Carriers Association (page does not exist)">North Dakota Motor Carriers Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=North_Dakota_Propane_Gas_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="North Dakota Propane Gas Association (page does not exist)">North Dakota Propane Gas Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Ohio_Coal_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Ohio Coal Association (page does not exist)">Ohio Coal Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Ohio_Petroleum_Marketers_and_Convenience_Store_Associati&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Ohio Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Associati (page does not exist)">Ohio Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Ohio_Trucking_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Ohio Trucking Association (page does not exist)">Ohio Trucking Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Odessa_Pumps&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Odessa Pumps (page does not exist)">Odessa Pumps</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pennsylvania_Coal_Association" title="Pennsylvania Coal Association">Pennsylvania Coal Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Permian_Basin_Petroleum_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Permian Basin Petroleum Association (page does not exist)">Permian Basin Petroleum Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Recreation_Vehicle_Industry_Council&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Recreation Vehicle Industry Council (page does not exist)">Recreation Vehicle Industry Council</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=RES_Coal&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="RES Coal (page does not exist)">RES Coal</a> LLC</li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Robindale_Energy_Services&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Robindale Energy Services (page does not exist)">Robindale Energy Services</a>, Inc.</li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Rosebud_Trucking_Company&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Rosebud Trucking Company (page does not exist)">Rosebud Trucking Company</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Rural_Electric_Convenience_Cooperative&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative (page does not exist)">Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Sunbury_Generation" title="Sunbury Generation">Sunbury Generation</a> LP</li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tennessee_Aircraft_Co.&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Tennessee Aircraft Co. (page does not exist)">Tennessee Aircraft Co.</a>, Inc.</li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tennessee_Fuel%26_Convenience_Store_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Tennessee Fuel & Convenience Store Association (page does not exist)">Tennessee Fuel & Convenience Store Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tennessee_Trucking_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Tennessee Trucking Association (page does not exist)">Tennessee Trucking Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Texas_Alliance_of_Energy_Producers&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Texas Alliance of Energy Producers (page does not exist)">Texas Alliance of Energy Producers</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Triple_S_Trucking_Company&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Triple S Trucking Company (page does not exist)">Triple S Trucking Company</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=TruckNation&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="TruckNation (page does not exist)">TruckNation</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Utility_Shareholders_of_North_Dakota&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Utility Shareholders of North Dakota (page does not exist)">Utility Shareholders of North Dakota</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Virginia_Trucking_Association&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Virginia Trucking Association (page does not exist)">Virginia Trucking Association</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Wayne_White_Electric_Co-Op&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Wayne White Electric Co-Op (page does not exist)">Wayne White Electric Co-Op</a></li></ul><a name="Contact_information" id="Contact_information"> </a><h2>Contact information</h2>Email: info AT energycitizens.org
Web: <a href="http://www.energycitizens.org/" class="external free" title="http://www.energycitizens.org" rel="nofollow">http://www.energycitizens.org</a><a name="Resources_and_articles" id="Resources_and_articles"> </a><h2>Resources and articles</h2><a name="Related_SourceWatch_Articles" id="Related_SourceWatch_Articles"> </a><h3>Related SourceWatch Articles</h3><ul><li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Front_groups" title="Front groups">Front groups</a></li></ul><a name="References" id="References"> </a><h3>References</h3><ol class="references"><li id="cite_note-nyt-0">↑ <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_ref-nyt_0-0" title="">1.0</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_ref-nyt_0-1" title="">1.1</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_ref-nyt_0-2" title="">1.2</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_ref-nyt_0-3" title="">1.3</a> Clifford Krauss and Jad Mouawad,<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/business/energy-environment/19climate.html" class="external text" title="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/business/energy-environment/19climate.html" rel="nofollow">"Oil Industry Backs Protests of Emissions Bill,"</a> New York Times, August 18, 2009.</li><li id="cite_note-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_ref-1" title="">↑</a> <a href="http://energycitizens.org/about/" class="external text" title="http://energycitizens.org/about/" rel="nofollow">"About Energy Citizens,"</a> Energy Citizens, accessed August 2009.</li><li id="cite_note-who-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_ref-who_2-0" title="">↑</a> <a href="http://energycitizens.org/about/participating-organizations/" class="external text" title="http://energycitizens.org/about/participating-organizations/" rel="nofollow">"Participating Organizations,"</a> Energy Citizens, accessed August 2009.</li><li id="cite_note-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_ref-3" title="">↑</a> <a href="http://energycitizens.org/issues/the-climate-bill/" class="external text" title="http://energycitizens.org/issues/the-climate-bill/" rel="nofollow">"The Climate Bill,"</a> Energy Citizens, accessed August 2009.</li><li id="cite_note-Talley-4">↑ <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_ref-Talley_4-0" title="">5.0</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_ref-Talley_4-1" title="">5.1</a> Ian Talley, <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/08/11/lobby-groups-to-use-town-hall-tactics-to-oppose-climate-bill/" class="external text" title="http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/08/11/lobby-groups-to-use-town-hall-tactics-to-oppose-climate-bill/" rel="nofollow">"Lobby Groups to Use Town Hall Tactics to Oppose Climate Bill"</a>, "Washington Wire" (Wall Street Journal Blog), August 11, 2009.</li><li id="cite_note-5"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens#cite_ref-5" title="">↑</a> David A. Fahrenthold, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/15/AR2009081502698.html" class="external text" title="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/15/AR2009081502698.html" rel="nofollow">"Oil Group's 'Citizen' Rally Memo Stirs Debate: Firms Asked to Recruit Employees, Retirees"</a>, Washington Post, August 16, 2009.</li></ol><a name="External_resources" id="External_resources"> </a><h3>External resources</h3><ul><li>Jack Gerard, <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/assets/binaries/gp-api-letter-aug-09" class="external text" title="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/assets/binaries/gp-api-letter-aug-09" rel="nofollow">"Dear API Member Company CEO/Executive"</a> Email to American Petroleum Institute members, August 2009. (The memo is appended to a letter from the Executive Director of Greenpeace US, Phil Radford, to Jack Gerard.)</li></ul><a name="External_articles" id="External_articles"> </a><h3>External articles</h3><ul><li>mikeg, <a href="http://members.greenpeace.org/blog/greenpeaceusa_blog/2009/08/13/don_t_let_big_oil_drown_us_out" class="external text" title="http://members.greenpeace.org/blog/greenpeaceusa_blog/2009/08/13/don_t_let_big_oil_drown_us_out" rel="nofollow">"Leaked memo exposes Big Oil's plans to run an Astroturf campaign against climate legislation"</a>, Greenpeace US, August 13, 2009.</li></ul> <div class="printfooter">Retrieved from "<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens">http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens</a>"</div><div id="catlinks" class="catlinks"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Special:Categories" title="Special:Categories">Categories</a>: <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Category:Front_groups_portal" title="Category:Front groups portal">Front groups portal</a> | <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Category:Coal_Issues" title="Category:Coal Issues">Coal Issues</a> | <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Category:Energy" title="Category:Energy">Energy</a> | <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Category:Front_groups" title="Category:Front groups">Front groups</a> | <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Category:Politics%28US%29" title="Category:Politics (US)">Politics (US)</a> | <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Category:Environment" title="Category:Environment">Environment</a> | <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Category:Oil_industry" title="Category:Oil industry">Oil industry</a> | <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Category:Coal_lobby" title="Category:Coal lobby">Coal lobby</a></div></div> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens">http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Citizens</a> <a href="https://moneytrails.org/energy-citizens/">https://moneytrails.org/energy-citizens/</a>energy Citizens Is An Oil Industry-Funded Group That Opposes Environmental Legislation And Oil Regulations Energy Citizens Front Group Created By The American Petroleum Institute “Aimed At Derailing Climate-Change Legislation”“Energy Citizens is a creation of the American Petroleum Institute, the oil industry’s largest trade group. (In 2009, API has spent some $5.8 million on lobbying, much of it on the climate and energy bills.) A memo from API president Jack Gerard, leaked to Greenpeace, urged his group’s members to ensure “turnouts of several hundred attendees” at supposedly grassroots events like the ones Energy Citizens was sponsoring.” [Mother Jones, <a href="https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2009/12/dirty-dozen-climate-change-denial-03-american-petroleum-institute/" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; touch-action: manipulation; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.35s ease 0s; font-weight: 600;"><span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">12/05/09</a>]“Energy Citizens” Is Coordinated By The American Petroleum Institute. “Taking a leaf from the playbook employed by health care reform opponents, the oil industry has put together an ‘Energy Citizens’ movement aimed at derailing climate-change legislation. […] Similar rallies, which the American Petroleum Institute is coordinating, are planned for 22 cities across 19 states, so far not including California. They are meant to send a “loud message” to the U.S. Senate when it takes up the House-passed cap-and-trade bill next month, according to a memo from the industry trade group, of which Chevron is a prominent dues-paying members. […] The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and a number of state business organizations are on board with the program ( <a href="http://www.energycitizens.org/" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; touch-action: manipulation; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.35s ease 0s; font-weight: 600;"><span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">www.energycitizens.org</a>).” [San Francisco Chronicle, <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Chevron-backs-oil-group-s-Energy-Citizens-3288743.php" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; touch-action: manipulation; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.35s ease 0s; font-weight: 600;"><span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">08/20/09</a>]Energy Citizens Holds Rallies To Oppose Environmental Legislation— Where API Lobbyists And Oil Company Staffers Come Together To Call Climate Change A “Hoax” And Dismiss Oil SpillsThe Oil Industry Backed Energy Citizens Protests of Environmental Legislation. “Hundreds of people packed a downtown theater here on Tuesday for a lunchtime rally that was as much a celebration of oil’s traditional role in the Texas way of life as it was a political protest against Washington’s energy policies, which many here fear will raise energy prices…The event on Tuesday was organized by a group called Energy Citizens, which is backed by the American Petroleum Institute, the oil industry’s main trade group. Many of the people attending the demonstration were employees of oil companies who work in Houston and were bused from their workplaces.” [Clifford Krauss & Jad Mouawad, “<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/business/energy-environment/19climate.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all" style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; touch-action: manipulation; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.35s ease 0s; font-weight: 600;"><span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">Oil <span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">Industry <span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">Backs <span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">Protests <span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">of <span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">Emissions <span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">Bill</a>,” The New York Times, 08/18/09]API Lobbyists Organize Most Energy Citizens Rallies. “Most ‘Energy Citizens’ rallies are being organized by registered lobbyists working on behalf of the American Petroleum Institute and other energy interests. A list of organizers circulated by the Sierra Club shows state-registered lobbyists for the energy industry [were] serving as the coordinators for 16 of 21 scheduled events organized under the campaign.” [E&E News, <a href="https://www.eenews.net/stories/81706" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; touch-action: manipulation; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.35s ease 0s; font-weight: 600;"><span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">08/21/09</a>]<ul style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 30px 25px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 25px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat;"><li style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat;"><span style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; font-weight: bolder;">At One Energy Citizens Rally, Oil Executives Called Climate Change A “Hoax…” “What was billed as an organic grassroots jobs rally quickly descended into attacks on three things the Kochs most oppose: global warming science, oil safety regulations, and Democrats. One of the speakers, Sgt. Dennis Bartow, called global warming a ‘hoax.’ He was joined by Karen Wright, CEO of the gas company Ariel Corporation, who ridiculed climate change as ‘questionable science’ and referred to pollutants as ‘so-called carbon dioxide emissions.’ Wright went on to rail against ‘so-called green jobs’ that were ‘dubious’ and ‘phony.’” [Think Progress, <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/koch-funded-oil-rally-calls-global-warming-a-hoax-dismisses-oil-spill-and-attacks-democrats-e23732b7b8a7/" style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; touch-action: manipulation; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.35s ease 0s;">09/08/10</a>]</li><li style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat;">…Dismissed Criticisms Of The Oil Industry’s Environmental Record… “Other speakers later dismissed attacks on the oil industry’s safety record, particularly in the wake of the Gulf oil spill. Radio host Matt Patrick called the deepwater drilling moratorium ‘ridiculous’ and compared it to a ban on building houses because one caught on fire. Wright ‘did a quick Google search’ on the oil industry’s safety record and openly wondered why Congress doesn’t ban cars because the number of auto accident deaths far exceeds the number of oil industry deaths.” [Think Progress, <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/koch-funded-oil-rally-calls-global-warming-a-hoax-dismisses-oil-spill-and-attacks-democrats-e23732b7b8a7/" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; touch-action: manipulation; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.35s ease 0s;">09/08/10</a>]</li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat;">And Falsely Claimed That The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Was “All Gone.” “Wright also gleefully proclaimed that the oil spill is ‘all gone,’ a claim that is easily dispelled with a quick Google search.” [Think Progress, <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/koch-funded-oil-rally-calls-global-warming-a-hoax-dismisses-oil-spill-and-attacks-democrats-e23732b7b8a7/" style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; touch-action: manipulation; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.35s ease 0s;">09/08/10</a><span style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; font-weight: 400;">]</li></ul><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; font-weight: bolder; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The Oil Giant <span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; font-weight: bolder; background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Chevron <span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; font-weight: bolder; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Is Also “Throwing Its Weight” Behind Energy Citizens By Sending Staff To Its Rallies. “Taking a leaf from the playbook employed by health care reform opponents, the oil industry has put together an ‘Energy Citizens’ movement aimed at derailing climate-change legislation. And San Ramon’s Chevron Corp. is throwing its weight behind the effort. Among the estimated 3,500 ‘energy citizens’ at a Houston rally on Tuesday were Chevron employees and retirees “invited … to participate” by the company, which also provided buses for the estimated 250 to 350 of their number to get there. Chevron had “sent a memo to its downtown Houston employees encouraging them to attend (the) event, so they can be a part of the energy policy discussion,” said company spokesman Morgan Crinklaw.” [San Francisco Chronicle, <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Chevron-backs-oil-group-s-Energy-Citizens-3288743.php" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; touch-action: manipulation; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.35s ease 0s; font-weight: 600;"><span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">08/20/09</a>]Energy Citizens Urges Voters To Vote For Candidates Who Support The Keystone Pipeline<span style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; font-weight: bolder;">The American Petroleum Institute Lead Various Energy Citizens Campaigns. “API also led ‘Energy Citizens’ and ‘Vote 4 Energy’ campaigns that paid for billboards and broadcast ads featuring Americans who say that oil and gas are the most important issues this November. The Energy Citizens website features yet another American flag; it asks visitors to ‘Pledge Today’ to vote for candidates who support Keystone and sign up for e-mail alerts to oppose ‘energy taxes,’ API’s deceptive moniker for efforts to end oil company subsidies.” [The Nation, <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/never-mind-super-pacs-how-big-business-buying-election/" style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; touch-action: manipulation; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.35s ease 0s; font-weight: 600;"><span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">08/29/12</a>]Energy Citizens Ran A Campaign To Promote An Exxon Tar-Sands Pipeline In MaineEnergy Citizens Ran Ads Promoting a Pipeline in Maine in 2014. “The group Energy Citizens, backed by the American Petroleum Institute, the oil industry’s largest trade group, ran ads that said ‘It’s just oil. From Canada.’ The oil companies hired a number of lawyers and brought public relations firms on board.” [Grist, <a href="https://grist.org/climate-energy/how-a-town-in-maine-is-blocking-an-exxon-tar-sands-pipeline/" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; touch-action: manipulation; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.35s ease 0s; font-weight: 600;"><span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">07/23/14</a>]<h3 style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 40px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; font-weight: bolder; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Energy Citizens Uses Social Media –Sometimes Deceptively–  To Promote The Oil Industry And Oppose Regulation</h3><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; font-weight: bolder; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Energy Citizens Advertises Social Media To Oppose Legislation Energy Citizens Ran Ads Opposing A Colorado Bill Regulating the Oil and Gas Industry. “Facebook’s Ad Archive, a tool that tracks and discloses political advertising on the social media platform, lists dozens of sponsored posts from astroturf groups like ‘Energy Citizens’ and ‘Energy Nation’ opposing SB 181 over the last few weeks, all of which were paid for by the American Petroleum Institute. The ads recorded millions of impressions and totaled tens of thousands of dollars in spending, according to Facebook estimates.” [Westword, <a href="https://www.westword.com/news/oil-and-gas-groups-spending-big-on-ads-opposing-reform-bill-11273779" style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; touch-action: manipulation; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.35s ease 0s; font-weight: 600;"><span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">03/19/19</a>]Energy Citizens Advertises Social Media To Promote The Oil Industry <span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; font-weight: bolder; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Energy Citizens Uses Deceptive Social Media Tactics to Build a Network of Supporters. “Like many environmental groups, API uses social media to build a network of supporters…the Facebook sites of Energy Citizens (28,278 ‘like’ this) and EnergyTomorrow (32,877 ‘like’ that) identify themselves simply as nonprofit organizations. Only if readers click on the ‘about’ section do they see ‘the organization is supported by API.” [Washington Post, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/jack-gerard-the-force-majeure-behind-big-oil/2012/04/06/gIQA1hjC0S_story.html" style="background-color: rgb(250, 248, 245); box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; touch-action: manipulation; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.35s ease 0s; font-weight: 600;"><span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">04/07/12</a>]<span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; font-weight: bolder; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Energy Citizens Bought Facebook Ads Aimed at Maintaining a Positive Image of the Oil and Gas Industry Among Conservatives. “Under Energy Citizens, a name that API began using in 2009 to organize an ostensible grassroots movement against limits on emissions linked to climate change, the institute spent $260,000 since this May on Facebook ads aimed at people interested in Donald Trump or Sean Hannity. The ads praised oil and gas production for protecting the environment and addressing climate change, supported the controversial Keystone XL pipeline and opposed a nuclear power plant ‘bailout’ in Ohio…Facebook users would have to click through the links on these ads and scroll to the bottom of the websites of Energy Citizens and Explore Offshore Coalition to learn that they are actually linked to the petroleum group.” [Jeremy B. Merrill, “<a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/how-big-oil-dodges-facebooks-new-ad-transparency-rules" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; touch-action: manipulation; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.35s ease 0s; font-weight: 600; background-color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"><span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">How <span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">Big <span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">Oil <span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">Dodges <span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">Facebook’s <span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">New <span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">Ad <span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">Transparency <span class="te" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -0.225em; padding: 0px 0.15em; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; position: relative; display: inline-block; z-index: 9;">Rules</a>,” Electionland, 11/1/18]
An internal memo obtained recently by Greenpeace USA details polluting interests’ plans to launch a nationwide astroturf campaign attacking climate legislation at public events scheduled throughout the final weeks of recess before the Senate returns to debate the issue in September.

The email memo (<a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/sites/beta.desmogblog.com/files/GP%20API%20letter%20August%202009-1.pdf">download a PDF copy</a>), which appears to come from the desk of American Petroleum Institute president Jack Gerard, asks API’s member companies to recruit employees, retirees, vendors and contractors to attend “Energy Citizen” rallies in key Congressional districts nationwide in the closing weeks of the August recess.  The campaign plan places a special focus on 21 states picked by API for having “a significant industry presence” or “assets on the ground.”

Taking a page from the playbook of astroturf campaigners currently crashing health care town hall events across the country, <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090812-707365.html" target="blank">API hopes to similarly sully productive communications</a> between Congress members and their actual constituents at public events scheduled for the coming weeks.  Gerard states that API is ready to bus in company members and provide logistical support, and reveals that API has retained “a highly experienced events management company that has produced successful rallies for presidential campaigns, corporations and interest groups.”

Gerard’s email states that API is partnering on the rally campaign with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, confirming that the groups are <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/08/12/12greenwire-energy-citizens-take-aim-at-climate-legislatio-54732.html" target="blank">staging a coordinated effort to attack climate legislation</a> despite the fact that several prominent members of these groups have stated support for strong Congressional action to combat climate change.

Greenpeace sent a <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?mudzz4iezkd" target="blank">letter to Gerard yesterday</a> asking him to verify the authenticity of the email, and pointing out that the plan “runs contrary to several prominent API members’ public support for climate action, namely Shell, BP America, ConocoPhillips, General Electric and Siemens.” 

The memo closes with a ‘for your eyes only’ plea: “Please treat this information as sensitive and ask those in your company to do so as well… we don’t want critics to know our game plan.”

To which Greenpeace responded to Gerard in yesterday’s letter, “Game plan known.”

Here is a list of the “tentative venues” where API plans to hold “Energy Citizen” rallies.  If you live in one of the named cities, please email any news or tips you hear about the rallies to us at <a href="mailto:desmogblog@gmail.com">d</a><a href="mailto:desmogblog@gmail.com.">esmogblog@gmail.com.</a>significant assets in:Houston TX
Perry GA
Detroit MI
Roswell NM
Greensboro NC
Farmington NM
Ohio (venue being finalized)
Greeley CO
Nashville TN
Indiana (venue being finalized)
Bismarck ND
Tampa FL
Sioux Falls SD
Greenville SC
Anchorage AK
Joliet IL
Charleston WV
Fairfax VA
Philadelphia PA
Lincoln NE
Missouri TBD
Arkansas TBDk grandia <div class="float_left fixed_width_author"><h2><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-grandia">Kevin Grandia</a></h2>=see jack g:
gwB  3/14/2011

An internal memo obtained recently by Greenpeace USA details polluting interests’ plans to launch a nationwide astroturf campaign attacking climate legislation at public events scheduled throughout the final weeks of recess before the Senate returns to debate the issue in September.

The email memo (download a PDF copy), which appears to come from the desk of American Petroleum Institute president Jack Gerard, asks API’s member companies to recruit employees, retirees, vendors and contractors to attend “Energy Citizen” rallies in key Congressional districts nationwide in the closing weeks of the August recess.  The campaign plan places a special focus on 21 states picked by API for having “a significant industry presence” or “assets on the ground.”

Taking a page from the playbook of astroturf campaigners currently crashing health care town hall events across the country, API hopes to similarly sully productive communications http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090812-707365.html = 404   between Congress members and their actual constituents at public events scheduled for the coming weeks.  Gerard states that API is ready to bus in company members and provide logistical support, and reveals that API has retained “a highly experienced events management company that has produced successful rallies for presidential campaigns, corporations and interest groups.”

Gerard’s email states that API is partnering on the rally campaign with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, confirming that the groups are staging a coordinated effort to attack climate legislation despite the fact that several prominent members of these groups have stated support for strong Congressional action to combat climate change.

Greenpeace sent a letter to Gerard yesterday asking him to verify the authenticity of the email, and pointing out that the plan “runs contrary to several prominent API members’ public support for climate action, namely Shell, BP America, ConocoPhillips, General Electric and Siemens.”

The memo closes with a ‘for your eyes only’ plea: “Please treat this information as sensitive and ask those in your company to do so as well… we don’t want critics to know our game plan.”

To which Greenpeace responded to Gerard in yesterday’s letter, “Game plan known.”

Kevin Grandia

Managing Editor of DeSmogBlog
Posted: August 13, 2009 06:24 PM

Oil Lobby's 'Energy Citizens' Astroturf Campaign Exposed  grandia <div class="views-field-field-employer-nid" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="field-content">company <a href="http://www.polluterwatch.com/american-petroleum-institute" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">American Petroleum Institute</a></div></div><div class="views-field-field-title-value" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">position President and CEO</div><div class="views-field-body"><div class="field-content">bioJack Gerard has served as President and CEO of the <a href="http://www.polluterwatch.com/american-petroleum-institute" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">American Petroleum Institute</a> since November, 2008. Gerard was born and raised in Idaho, moving to George Washington University to obtain a B.A. in Political Science and a subsequent law degree. <a target="blank" href="http://www.whorunsgov.com/Profiles/Jack_N.Gerard" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none;">Prior to assuming his current position at API</a>, Jack Gerard worked as the President of the American Chemistry Council from 2005-2008 and before that as the President of the National Mining Association from 2001-2005.  Gerard obtained his initial political foothold throughout the 1980s while working for Representative George Hansen (R-ID) and Senator James McClure (R-ID), chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.According to <a target="blank" href="http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/20/news/companies/jack_gerard_oil_lobby.fortune/?section=money_latest" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">Fortune</a>, Gerard's position as Big Oil's top lobbyist gives him "unprecedented direct and regular access to the CEOs of his most important member companies, including Exxon's <a href="http://www.polluterwatch.com/rex-tillerson" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">Rex Tillerson</a> and ConocoPhillips' <a href="http://www.polluterwatch.com/james-mulva" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">James Mulva</a>."</div></div><div class="views-field-field-evidence-value"><div class="field-content"><div class="polluter-subtitle" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Evidence</div><div class="polluter-body"><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Political Activity:</h3>As the premier lobbying organization for the oil and gas industry, Jack Gerard has overseen $30 million in <a target="blank" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000031493&year=2011" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">federal lobbying expenditures</a> over the from 2007 to 2011 (quarter 3).In the summer of 2010, after Gerard took a weeklong international trip (focused on adoption) with Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), the Senator blocked an appointment by the Obama administration in order to <a target="blank" href="http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/20/news/companies/jack_gerard_oil_lobby.fortune/?section=money_latest" style="outline: none;">hasten the lift of an offshore drilling moratorium</a> put in place following the BP Deepwater Horizon oil gusher.<h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">'Energy Citizens' Leaked Memo:</h3>A <a target="blank" href="http://www.desmogblog.com/sites/beta.desmogblog.com/files/GP%20API%20letter%20August%202009-1.pdf" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">leaked memo written by Jack Gerard</a> in August, 2009 revealed that API, in cooperation with the <a href="http://www.polluterwatch.com/us-chamber-commerce" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">U.S. Chamber of Commerce</a> and the National Association of Manufacturers was coordinating <a target="blank" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-grandia/leaked-memo---oil-lobbys_b_259149.html" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">“Energy Citizens” rallies</a> as a way to increase political pressure against climate and energy legislation. This effort to create an apparent network of anti-climate legislation grassroots activists was funded directly by the oil and gas industry, and <a target="blank" href="http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/side/6576402.html#none" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">industry workers were actually bused to rallies</a> by employers such as Chevron. The majority of these rallies were <a target="blank" href="http://www.grist.org/article/2009-08-21-energy-citizens-rallies-organized-by-industry-lobbyists" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">organized by oil industry lobbyists</a>.</div></div></div><div class="views-field-field-links-resources-url" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="field-content"><div class="polluter-subtitle">Links and Resources</div><div class="polluter-body"><div class="field-item field-item-0"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jack_N.Gerard" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">SourceWatch - Jack N. Gerard</a></div><div class="field-item field-item-1"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=12412" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">OpenSecrets - Jack N. Gerard lobbyist profile</a></div><div class="field-item field-item-2"><a href="http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/personfactsheet.php?id=1349" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">ExxonSecrets - Jack Gerard factsheet</a></div><div class="field-item field-item-3"><a href="http://www.whorunsgov.com/Profiles/Jack_N.Gerard" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">WhoRunsGov - Jack N. Gerard profile</a></div><div class="field-item field-item-4"><a href="http://api.org/aboutapi/apipresident/index.cfm" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">American Petroleum Institute - API President and CEO</a></div><div class="field-item field-item-5"><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/20/news/companies/jack_gerard_oil_lobby.fortune/?section=money_latest" target="blank" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">Fortune Magazine - Big Oil's big man in Washington</a>

<a href="http://www.polluterwatch.com/polluter-info/1" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">http://www.polluterwatch.com/polluter-info/1</a>
</div></div></div></div>=3/14/2011

An internal memo obtained recently by Greenpeace USA details polluting interests’ plans to launch a nationwide astroturf campaign attacking climate legislation at public events scheduled throughout the final weeks of recess before the Senate returns to debate the issue in September.

The email memo (download a PDF copy), which appears to come from the desk of American Petroleum Institute president Jack Gerard, asks API’s member companies to recruit employees, retirees, vendors and contractors to attend “Energy Citizen” rallies in key Congressional districts nationwide in the closing weeks of the August recess.  The campaign plan places a special focus on 21 states picked by API for having “a significant industry presence” or “assets on the ground.”

Taking a page from the playbook of astroturf campaigners currently crashing health care town hall events across the country, API hopes to similarly sully productive communications <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090812-707365.html">http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090812-707365.html</a> = 404   between Congress members and their actual constituents at public events scheduled for the coming weeks.  Gerard states that API is ready to bus in company members and provide logistical support, and reveals that API has retained “a highly experienced events management company that has produced successful rallies for presidential campaigns, corporations and interest groups.”

Gerard’s email states that API is partnering on the rally campaign with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, confirming that the groups are staging a coordinated effort to attack climate legislation despite the fact that several prominent members of these groups have stated support for strong Congressional action to combat climate change.

Greenpeace sent a letter to Gerard yesterday asking him to verify the authenticity of the email, and pointing out that the plan “runs contrary to several prominent API members’ public support for climate action, namely Shell, BP America, ConocoPhillips, General Electric and Siemens.”

The memo closes with a ‘for your eyes only’ plea: “Please treat this information as sensitive and ask those in your company to do so as well… we don’t want critics to know our game plan.”

To which Greenpeace responded to Gerard in yesterday’s letter, “Game plan known.”

Kevin Grandia

Managing Editor of DeSmogBlog
Posted: August 13, 2009 06:24 PM

Oil Lobby's 'Energy Citizens' Astroturf Campaign Exposed  grandia
 Managing Editor of DeSmogBlog<div class="blog_posted_date">Posted: August 13, 2009 06:24 PM
----
mojo josh

<a href="http://motherjones.com/environment/2009/12/dirty-dozen-climate-change-denial-03-american-petroleum-institute">http://motherjones.com/environment/2009/12/dirty-dozen-climate-change-denial-03-american-petroleum-institute</a>

Meet "Bryan from Ohio" and "Judy from Alaska"—just a couple of the hardworking, freedom-loving Americans who've signed on to support the pro-oil advocacy group Energy Citizens. This August, the group held a rally a few blocks from Exxon HQ in downtown Houston "to give these energy citizens a voice in the climate bill debate." Its blog described the 3,500 attendees as "truckers, farmers, homemakers, small business people, veterans, and the unemployed" who expressed their concerns about the Waxman-Markey climate bill.

Or their bosses' concerns. Energy Citizens is a creation of the American Petroleum Institute, the oil industry's largest trade group. (In 2009, API has spent some $5.8 million on lobbying, much of it on the climate and energy bills.) A memo from API president Jack Gerard, leaked to Greenpeace, urged his group's members to ensure "turnouts of several hundred attendees" at supposedly grassroots events like the ones Energy Citizens was sponsoring. He explained, "Our member company local leadership—including your facility manager's commitment to provide significant attendance—is essential to achieving the participation level that Senators cannot ignore." Kate Sheppard (then at Grist) obtained a list of the coordinators of 21 events Energy Citizens was planning; 15 out of the 21 were registered lobbyists, mostly for API and its affiliates.

Energy Citizens' website is filled with first-person video testimonials from people identified only by their first names and home states. Plucky Guardian blogger Leo Hickman sussed out that "Shaka from Tennessee" was likely Shaka L.A. Mitchell, until recently the executive vice president of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, which hosts the denialist website Carnival of Climate Change. (Hickman's hunch was borne out by this Wake Forest University alumni news profile). Mitchell was previously head of outreach for the Institute for Justice, a libertarian Beltway think tank partly bankrolled by right-wing petrobillionaires Charles G. and David Koch, who are among the largest funders of climate skeptics.
</div></div> =desmog has no entry and stories are 2009?ArticleLobbyists for Big Oil Organizing Most “Grassroots” ‘Energy Citizens’ RalliesGrist took a deeper look at a list of “local organizers” of the Astroturf ‘Energy Citizens’ rallies and discovered that most of them are actually oil industry lobbyists.  Go figure.  Since the American Petroleum Institute cooked up the idea for these ‘grassroots’ events to mimic the health care town hall rent-a-mobs, it makes sense that Big Oil’s lobbyists would do the ‘community organizing’ necessary to pull off this charade.Grist found that registered oil industry lobbyists are behind 15 of the 21 planned rallies, which look more like ‘glorified company picnics’ than spontaneous grassroots gatherings of concerned citizens. Check out Grist’s list of the lobbyists organizing these “grassroots” rallies:
•    Greensboro, N.C., rally organizer Bill Weatherspoon is a registered lobbyist for API in North Carolina.•    Lima, Ohio, organizer Terry Fleming is a registered lobbyist for the Ohio Petroleum Council.•    Atlanta, Ga., organizer Ric Cobb is a registerd lobbyist for the Georgia Petroleum Council.•    Elkhart, Ind., organizer Maggie McShane lobbies on behalf of the Indiana Petroleum Council.•    Nashville, Tenn., organizer Mike Williams is a registered lobbyist for API.•    Bismarck, N.D., organizer Ron Ness is a former registered lobbyist for the North Dakota Petroleum Council.•    Tampa, Fla., organizer David Mica registered lobbyist for the Florida Petroleum Council.•    St. Louis, Mo., organizer Ryan Rowden is a registered lobbyist for the Missouri Petroleum Council.•    Greenville, S.C., organizer Kay Clamp is a registered lobbyist for the South Carolina Petroleum Council.•    Lincoln, Neb., point of contact Chris Abboud is a registered lobbyist for the Agri-Business Association of Nebraska.•    Springfield, Ill., organizer Dave Sykuta is a registered lobbyist [PDF] for API.•    Detroit, Mich., organizer John Griffin is a registered lobbyist for the Associated Petroleum Industries of Michigan.•    Richmond, Va., organizer Mike Ward is a registered lobbyist for API in Virginia.•    Philadelphia, Pa., organizer Rolf Hanson registered lobbyist for API in Pennsylvania.•    Huron, S.D., organizer Tim Dougherty is a registered lobbyist.•    And in Farmington, N.M., rally organizer Wendi Schuur is the director of public and community affairs at Devon Energy, an oil and gas company.
ArticleTexas and New Mexico ‘Energy Citizens’ Events Are Really “Energy Employees” Rallies
ArticleIraq and Afghanistan War Vets Denounce ‘Energy Citizens’ Campaign As “Oil Dependence Tour”
no lnxOperation Free, a coalition of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and national security organizations, today slammed the ‘Energy Citizens’ Astroturf campaign orchestrated by the American Petroleum Institute and other Big Oil interests as a detriment to America’s energy security.“Veterans understand the connection between energy security, climate change and national security,” said Jon Powers, Chief Operating Officer of the Truman National Security Project and an Iraq war vet.Describing climate change as a “threat multiplier” for the armed forces, Powers denounced the ‘Energy Citizens’ campaign, stating that Big Oil does not have America’s best interests at heart.  “Veterans do not want to see America’s national security in the hands of Big Oil,” said Powers during the press teleconference today.Maine State Representative Alex Cornell du Houx, an Iraq war vet, said the ‘Energy Citizens’ campaign is “limiting meaningful debate on a serious national security issue,” and “watering down” the critical message that veterans and clean energy advocates have for Congress, which is to act immediately to address climate change in the interest of national security.  Rep. Cornell du Houx described witnessing long lines of cars and truck waiting for gasoline and diesel while on patrol in Iraq, and said he “never wanted to see the U.S. become even close to that dependent on oil.”Drew Sloan, an Iraq and Afghanistan vet and former employee at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Rocky Mountain Institute, called the United States’ slow response to the threat of climate change “death by a thousand self-inflicted cuts.”  Using an analogy from the battlefield, Sloan called the climate crisis “a wound that will become increasingly difficult to heal” unless America acts fast to address it.Sloan denounced ‘Energy Citizens’ and other oil and coal industry Astroturfing as “lies and misleading innuendo,” and described an unstable future in which American soldiers could lose their lives fighting wars over dwindling resources.Iraq and Afghanistan vet Scott Holcomb, a part-time Professor at Georgia Tech, talked about the “lesson that all vets learn at a gut level – that tomorrow is never promised,” and related it to the need to make energy security a national priority.  “Soldiers will not have to go fight in resource wars if we act now,” he said.  “The more we can diversify our energy supplies and create domestic renewable sources, the better off we will be,” said Holcomb.A group of roughly one hundred Operation Free veterans plans to visit Washington on September 9-10 for a day of action and meetings with Congress to relay the national security imperative of addressing climate change.  Veterans are also working within their local communities on what Powers described as “a real grassroots effort.”He said that many veterans “continue to protect America when we get out of the service,” and that the group’s work to raise support for action on climate change is “another form of strengthening America.”“We don’t have the money that Big Oil does to bus people around.  This is a genuine grassroots effort,” said Powers.
ArticleOil Industry Wages Major Lobbying Campaign to Kill Proposed Methane FeeAfter expressing support for carbon pricing earlier this year, the American Petroleum Institute and other oil lobby groups are pressuring Congress to not put a tax on methane. Critics see yet another cynical attempt to block climate action.=pulled? no links several graphs 2020?<a href="https://energycitizens.org/driving-the-wrong-direction-in-california/">https://energycitizens.org/driving-the-wrong-direction-in-california/</a>waybackIssues & AdvocacyExplore EnergyYour LegislatorsJoin Us
Driving The Wrong Direction In CaliforniaFour observations about California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order requiring that by 2035 all new cars sold in the state must be zero-emission vehicles – as well as his push for halting fracking in the state:1. The governor’s executive order could seriously impact middle-class CaliforniansThe zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) parked behind the governor during his announcement (one’s an Audi) underscore the point that the new mandate figures to be tough on middle-class Californians. It’s difficult to see how the mandate won’t make life in California – already among the most expensive in the nation – more costly, hurting people least able to afford it. Middle-class Californians should be able to buy a car that fits their budgets – vs. a price range imposed on them.  The governor’s pledge above – “You can still keep your internal combustion engine car” – sounds like a line from another big public policy debate a few years ago.Western States Petroleum Association President Catherine Reheis-Boyd:“Big ideas are only better if they are affordable for us all and can be backed by science, data and needed infrastructure. There are many questions about all of those concerns in the Governor’s orders. Dismantling our oil and natural gas industry right now means betting everything on alternative energy resources that we don’t have in place and a supporting infrastructure that’s far from being at the scale we need.”AFPM President and CEO Chet Thompson:“[P]ursuing this goal would be among the most inefficient, unpopular, and regressive methods to reduce carbon emissions. Forced electrification would deprive consumers of choice for popular vehicles fueled by affordable, reliable, and readily available gasoline and diesel. It also ignores that today’s vehicles are 99 percent cleaner than they were just a few decades ago and continue to get cleaner every year.”2. Seriously, a zero-emissions mandate in a state that has struggled to keep the lights on?The state’s renewable energy mandate, requiring 60% of the state’s electricity must come from renewables by 2030, stepped on a rake last month when rolling blackouts were implanted because demand outpaced available electricity during a hot spell. It would seem to undermine confidence that California can pull off Newsom’s zero-emissions vehicle pledge in just 15 years.The fact is ZEVs make up a small part of the vehicle market currently, and significant recharging infrastructure will need to be built. California had more than 15 million registered vehicles in 2018. That’s a lot of plug-ins that will be needed. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation’s John Bozzella:“[N]either mandates nor bans build successful markets. What builds successful markets is widespread stakeholder engagement: a combination of efforts by federal, state, and local governments, as well as automakers, dealers, utilities, hydrogen providers, electric infrastructure providers, builders, and others. Currently, electrified vehicles account for less than 10 percent of new vehicle sales in California. While that is the best in the nation, much more needs to be done to increase consumer demand for Zero Emission Vehicles in order for California to reach its goals. It will require increased infrastructure, incentives, fleet requirements, building codes, and much more.”3. There’s rhetoric and there’s realityCalifornia has a history of being good on rhetoric – and not so good on following through, often at great cost and burden to everyday Californians.Regarding issues with the state’s electricity-from-renewables mandate mentioned above, even Gov. Newsom conceded impacts to state residents, telling reporters last month that millions of Californians had been left in the dark thanks to a significant gap in reliability created by the renewable mandate. Other relevant points:California has a history of aspirational targets and failed outcomes. Since its inception in 1990, California has been forced to walk back or significantly change parts of its zero emission vehicle mandate no less than seven times as high costs, limited consumer interest and a lack of breakthroughs in battery technology have routinely rendered extremely optimistic goals infeasible.Overly aspirational mandates have led California residents to pay some of the highest electricity rates in the country. The average price of electricity in the state is 16.6 cents per kWh, nearly 60% higher than the national average, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.  As the charts below show, California electricity prices are high, even though the average California home uses about half as much energy as an average American household. In the first chart, state electricity prices (blue line) were about 40% higher than the national average in 2019. In the second, you can see the trajectory of the state’s baseline electricity rates – the minimum billing amount for customers.Add in past issues with taxes, infrastructure and regulation (see here, here and here) and it’s not surprising Gov. Newsom’s new order could generate some skepticism. While past history on goals, aspirations and rhetoric doesn’t mean California will come up short on this order, it certainly is a strong indicator.4. State natural gas and oil production is being targetedThe natural gas and oil industry is a key driver of California’s economy – second only to Texas in total industry employment – and its oil production ranked sixth in the nation as of June – 392,000 barrels per day. Newsom’s support for a fracking ban, which requires legislation, would impact both. California Independent Petroleum Association CEO Rock Zierman:“Today’s announcement to curb in-state production of energy will put thousands of workers in the Central Valley, Los Angeles basin, and Central Coast on the state’s overloaded unemployment program, drive up energy costs when consumers can least afford it, and hurt California’s fight to lower global greenhouse gas emissions. … Instead of creating our own local energy, each year California relies more and more upon foreign oil, which isn’t produced with our strong environmental protections nor does it generate desperately needed local and state tax revenue. … At a time when Californians pay more for energy while experiencing manmade ‘green outs’, it doesn’t make sense to hurt consumers, our economy, and our environment by banning California production.”The whole nation watches California because of its size and the sweep of its economy. Unfortunately, Americans living in other states are seeing one government mandate after another that leave too many Californians behind. It’s hardly a model for the rest of the nation.About The AuthorMark Green joined API after a career in newspaper journalism, including 16 years as national editorial writer for The Oklahoman in the paper’s Washington bureau. Previously, Mark was a reporter, copy editor and sports editor at an assortment of newspapers. He earned his journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma and master’s in journalism and public affairs from American University. He and his wife Pamela have two grown children and six grandchildren.===