energy4us
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">afpm front ~ cafe 12/18</font><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> <a href="https://www.desmog.com/energy4us/" style="">https://www.desmog.com/<b>energy4us/</b></a></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">b</font><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">ackground</span></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://energy4us.org/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" target="blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">Energy4US.org</a> describes itself as a “coalition of consumers, businesses and workers united in the belief that energy empowers us, allows us choices and improves our quality of life.” <a href="https://www.desmog.com/energy4us/#s1" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[1]</a></font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Energy4US appears to have grown out of a campaign titled “Secure Our Fuels” organized by <a href="https://www.desmog.com/consumer-energy-alliance-cea" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">The Consumer Energy Alliance (<span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">CEA</span>),</a> an industry <span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">PR</span> group closely tied with <a href="https://www.desmog.com/directory/vocabulary/5129" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;"><span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">HBW</span> Resources</a>, a lobbying and public affairs firm with historic ties to Alberta tar sands and proponent of the Keystone <span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">KL</span> Pipeline</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">. Known funders of </span><span class="caps" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;">CEA</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> include industry groups the </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">American Petroleum Institute (<span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">API</span>), the American Natural Gas Alliance (<span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">ANGA</span>), the <a href="https://www.desmog.com/american-fuel-petrochemical-manufacturers-afpm" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">American Fuel <span class="amp" style="box-sizing: border-box;">&</span> Petrochemical Manufacturers</a> (<span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">AFPM</span>), while members include petroleum giants <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/BP" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">BP</a>, <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Exxon_Mobil" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">ExxonMobil</a>, <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Shell" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">Shell</a>, and <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Chevron" target="blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">Chevron</a>, among others.</span></font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Energy4US lists its own members as including prominent trade groups and oil and energy industry advocates such as <a href="https://www.desmog.com/american-fuel-petrochemical-manufacturers-afpm" 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;">American Fuel <span class="amp" style="box-sizing: border-box;">&</span> Petrochemical Manufacturers</a> (<span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">AFPM</span>) and <b><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; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">National Black Chamber of Commerce</a> (<span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">NBCC</span>).</b> <a href="https://www.desmog.com/energy4us/#s2" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[2]</a></font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">According to their website, Energy4US focuses on an anti-regulatory stance with relations to vehicles: “Consumers, workers, families, and businesses should have the <b>right to choose</b> what cars to drive and what fuels to use. <b>We should be able to decide what works best for us, not the government</b></span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.” </span><a href="https://www.desmog.com/energy4us/#s3" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[3]</a></font></p><h2 id="h-stance-on-climate-change" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; line-height: 1.2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Stance on Climate Change</font></h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">According to their “What We Believe” section, Energy4US opposes a carbon tax, renewable fuel mandates, and other forms of government regulations: <a href="https://www.desmog.com/energy4us/#s3" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[3]</a></font></p><blockquote class="wp-block-quote" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; position: relative; margin-top: 10px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px 35px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">“Whether it is a <b style="">carbon tax</b>, a <b style="">mandate</b> on consumers to use a particular fuel, or some other way to limit or take away consumer choice, government efforts to make energy decisions for consumers are usually expensive, impair reliability, have few (if any) benefits, are complicated, and create unnecessary bureaucracies.”</font></p></blockquote><h2 id="h-ties-to-other-industry-groups" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; line-height: 1.2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ties to Other Industry Groups</font></h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">According to the Internet Archive, as of 2015 the Consumer Energy Alliance’s <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20150211184201/http://www.secureourfuels.org:80/" 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;">former website</a> SecureOurFuels.org<a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20150614033912/SecureOurFuels.org" 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;"> redirected to Energy4US.org</a> (<a href="http://www.secureourfuels.org/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" target="blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">Secureourfuels.org</a> is now owned by an industrial supply company).</font></p><figure class="wp-block-image is-resized" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">[scrnsht]</figure><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The<a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20181105233738/https://energy4us.org/first-blog-post/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" target="blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;"> first</a> and second blog posts at the Energy4US website reaffirm that Energy4US.org grew from <span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">CEA</span>‘s SecureOurFuels campaign. <a href="https://www.desmog.com/energy4us/#s4" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[4]</a>,<a href="https://www.desmog.com/energy4us/#s5" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;"> [5]</a></font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Before SecureOurFuels (<span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">SOF</span>) began redirecting to the Energy4US website in 2015, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20091226221728/http://www.secureourfuels.org:80/contact" 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;">contact information at the <span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">SOF</span> website</a> listed names of <span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">CEA</span> staff members Casey O’Shea, Michael Whatley and David Holt. Michael Whatley and David Holt are two of the three founders and partners listed at <span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">HBW</span> Resources. <a href="https://www.desmog.com/energy4us/#s6" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[6]</a></font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span id="docs-internal-guid-167ff35e-7fff-6999-2351-0070fc3c7b61" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Energy4Us.org website </span><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20181105234250/https://energy4us.org/cea-vice-president-michael-whatley-an-lcfs-is-the-wrong-choice-for-northeastmid-atlantic-consumers/" 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;">features <span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">CEA</span> vice president Michael Whatley’s work</a> on low carbon fuel standards repeatedly. Referring to Whatley as a “leading low-carbon fuel expert,” the website also features Whatley’s talking points on its “<a href="https://energy4us.org/gettin-the-facts-out/" 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;">Gettin’ the facts out” page</a>. <a href="https://www.desmog.com/energy4us/#s7" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[7]</a>, <a href="https://www.desmog.com/energy4us/#s8" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[8]</a></font></p><h3 id="h-american-fuel-petrochemical-alliance-afpm" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; line-height: 1.2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">American Fuel <span class="amp" style="box-sizing: border-box;">&</span> Petrochemical Alliance (<span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">AFPM</span>)</font></h3><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">According to old <span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">WHOIS</span> website registration information, Energy4US was formerly registered to <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20181105224119/https://www.afpm.org/staff/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" target="blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">Victor Adams,</a> head of websites and marketing at the <a href="https://www.desmog.com/american-fuel-petrochemical-manufacturers-afpm" 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;">American Fuel <span class="amp" style="box-sizing: border-box;">&</span> Petrochemical Manufacturers (<span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">AFPM</span>)</a>. Other deviations of energy4us.com and .org were also registered to Victor Adams. <a href="https://www.desmog.com/energy4us/#s9" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[9]</a>, <a href="https://www.desmog.com/energy4us/#s10" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[10]</a></font></p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><img src="https://www.desmog.com/wp-content/uploads/files/Energy4USorg-whois.png" alt="" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%; border-radius: inherit; box-shadow: none;" /></font></figure><h3 id="h-american-petroleum-institute-api" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; line-height: 1.2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">American Petroleum Institute (<span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">API</span>)</font></h3><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Paul Hartman, a <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20181105224119/https://www.afpm.org/staff/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" target="blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">senior policy advisor at <span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">API</span></a>, introduced himself as “Coalition Advisor to Energy4US” in an email to a Rhode Island building and trade group. In the email, published at <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">RI</span> Future.org, </em><b>Hartman described how “a few comments on Facebook” were suggesting that “Energy4US is ‘only a big Oil’ entity</b>’.”<a href="https://www.desmog.com/energy4us/#s10" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[10]</a>, [<a href="https://www.desmog.com/energy4us/#s11" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">11]</a></font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulhartman1/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external" target="blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">According to LinkedIn</a>, Hartman was Regional Director of State Affairs at America’s Natural Gas Alliance (<span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">ANGA</span>) when he sent the email in June 2016. <span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">ANGA</span> later merged with <span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">API</span> in December 2016. Hartman never listed his connection to Energy4US on his public LinkedIn, however confirmed in an email to <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">RI</span> Future</em> that he had “recently come on board as the Coalition Advisor.” <a href="https://www.desmog.com/energy4us/#s12" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[12]</a>, <a href="https://www.desmog.com/energy4us/#s11" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[11]</a></font></p><h2 id="h-funding" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; line-height: 1.2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Funding</font></h2><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Below are funding details for the Consumer Energy Alliance (<span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">CEA</span>), the group that appears to be behind the Energy4US campaign. <span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">CEA</span>‘s known donors include the <a href="http://polluterwatch.org/americas-natural-gas-alliance" 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;">American Natural Gas Alliance (<span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">ANGA</span>)</a> and the <a href="https://www.desmog.com/american-petroleum-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;">American Petroleum Institute (<span class="caps" style="box-sizing: border-box;">API</span>)</a>, according to publicly available tax forms and data collected by the C<a href="http://conservativetransparency.org/recipient/consumer-energy-alliance/" 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;">onservative Transparency project</a>. <a href="https://www.desmog.com/energy4us/#s13" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; box-shadow: none;">[13]</a></font></p><figure class="wp-block-table" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-x: scroll; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><table style="background-color: transparent; width: 860px; margin-bottom: 15px; border-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody style="box-sizing: border-box;"><tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">American Natural Gas Alliance</font></span></td><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">(Subtotal $194,500)</font></span></td></tr><tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">2010</font></td><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$15,000</font></td></tr><tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">2011</font></td><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$158,000</font></td></tr><tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">2013</font></td><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$6,500</font></td></tr><tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">2014</font></td><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$15,000</font></td></tr><tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">American Petroleum Institute</font></span></td><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">(Subtotal $332,500)</font></span></td></tr><tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">2008</font></td><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$30,000</font></td></tr><tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">2009</font></td><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$67,500</font></td></tr><tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">2010</font></td><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$35,000</font></td></tr><tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">2011</font></td><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$50,000</font></td></tr><tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">2012</font></td><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$100,000</font></td></tr><tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">2013</font></td><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$50,000</font></td></tr><tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Grand Total</font></span></td><td style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px; line-height: 1.5; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 600;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">$527,000</font></span></td></tr></tbody></table><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">990 Forms</font></figure><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">...</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">no lnx grx twt</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">key People</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Before SecureOurFuels (SOF) began redirecting to the Energy4US website in 2015, contact information at the SOF website listed the following names: [6]</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Press contacts:</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Chris Tucker: chris@consumerenergyalliance.org</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Travis Windle: travis@consumerenergyalliance.org</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Coalitions contact:</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Kristin Marcell: Kristin@consumerenergyalliance.org</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Policy contacts:</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Michael Whatley: MWhatley@consumerenergyalliance.org</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">David Holt: DHolt@consumerenergyalliance.org</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Actions</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">August 3, 2018</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Energy4US organized a Facebook campaign to rally against Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. “The Obama mileage rules will add $3,000 to the cost of your new car. Tell Washington to FIX the Obama MILEAGE RULES,” the ad reads, linking to an online petition. </span>[14], [15]</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">According to Facebook’s archive of ads with political content, Energy4US sponsored a series of similar ads opposing CAFE standards since early August 2018. One example below:</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Related Organizations</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Coalition Members</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Energy4US includes a range of industry trade groups and associations, a number of which advocate on behalf of the petroleum industry: [2]</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">American Highway Users Alliance</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Association of Union Constructors</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Chicago Cook County Building Trades</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Connecticut Association of Community Pharmacies</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Connecticut Business and Industry Association</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Connecticut Energy Marketers Association</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Connecticut Food Association</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Connecticut State Building Trades and Construction Council</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Illinois Manufacturers Association</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York (IOGANY)</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Iron Workers District Council</b> of Chicago and Vicinity</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Iron Workers District Council of New England</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Iron Workers District Council of New York State</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Iron Workers District Council of Northern Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, and Northern West Virginia</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Iron Workers District Council of Philadelphia and Vicinity</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Iron Workers District Council of Southern Ohio and Vicinity</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Iron Workers District Council of the Southeastern States</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Iron Workers Management Progressive Action Trust</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Iron Workers’ District Council of the Mid-Atlantic States</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Laborers’ District Council of Connecticut</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Laborers’ District </b>Council of Eastern New York</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Laborer’s District Council of Massachusetts and Northern New England</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Laborers’ District Council of Rhode Island</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Laborer’s District Council of Upstate New York</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Manufacturers Association of Maine</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Massachusetts Building Trades Council</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Morris County Chamber of Commerce</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Motor Transport Association of Connecticut</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">National Association of Neighborhoods</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">National Black Chamber of Commerce</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">National Federation of Independent Businesses</span> – New York</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>National Sheriff’s Association</b></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">New York Business Council</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">New York State Building and Construction Trades Council</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Office of the Sheriff City and County of Philadelphia</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Recreational Fishing Alliance</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Rhode Island Building & Construction Trades Council</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>Teamsters</b> Joint Council 28 (Washington State)</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Teamsters Local 633 (New Hampshire)</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Teamsters Local 639 (Washington, DC)</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Teamsters Local 763 (Washington State)</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Teamsters Local 671 (Connecticut)</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Teamsters Local 959 (Alaska)</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Vermont Chamber of Commerce</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Contact & Address</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Energy4US lists their address as follows: [1]</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">ENERGY4US.ORG</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">P. O. BOX 15541</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32035</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The above address appears to be listed for Mike Collins PR, the company that co-runs the website with Ampersand Digital. [16], [17]</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Social Media</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">@Energy4USorg on Facebook</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">@Energy4USorg on Twitter</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Resources</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Homepage, Energy4Us.org. Archived November 5, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/RByPc</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“WHO WE ARE,” Energy4Us.org. Archived November 5, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/Y2FHG</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“WHAT WE BELIEVE,” Energy4US. Archived November 5, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/ZD7Qo</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“WELCOME TO SECURE OUR FUELS,” Energy4US. Archived November 5, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/ytNDF</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“NEW CAMPAIGN SEEKS TO EDUCATE PUBLIC ON NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF A NATIONWIDE LOW CARBON FUEL STANDARD (LCFS),” Energy4US. Archived November 5, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/nrJn1</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Contact,” SecureOurFuels.org. December 26, 2009. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/kNM4p</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“CEA VICE PRESIDENT MICHAEL WHATLEY: AN LCFS IS THE WRONG CHOICE FOR NORTHEAST/MID–ATLANTIC CONSUMERS,” Energy4US. Archived November 5, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/8nuTe</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“GETTIN’ THE FACTS OUT,” Energy4US, Archived November 5, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/uz7b9</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">WHOIS data via DomainTools (paid service).</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“STAFF,” American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers. Archived November 5, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/jtrCV</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Steve Ahlquist. “Unions, industry collaborate on big oil astroturfing campaign in RI,” RI Future.org, July 12, 2016. Archived November 5, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/Tlnpo</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Paul Hartman,” LinkedIn. Accessed November 5, 2018. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Consumer Energy Alliance,” Conservative Transparency. Accessed November 2, 2018.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“The Obama mileage rules will add $3,000 to the cost of your new car …” Facebook post by user “Energy4US,” August 3, 2018. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Fix the Obama Mileage Standard,” p2a.co. Archived November 6, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/BjxQm</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Mike Collins Public Relations LLC Overview,” CorporationWiki. Accessed November 6, 2018.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“Energy4US & The Distillation,” Ampersand Digital, Inc. Archived November 6, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/23Ccl</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Other Resources</font></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">nyt</font></div><div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">no lnx twit</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Facebook ads, featuring Mr. Trump waving alongside the message, “SUPPORT OUR PRESIDENT’S CAR FREEDOM AGENDA!,” appeared the week after the administration made public its fuel economy plan in August. At least 10 times during the two-month public comment period on the plan, the ads, which did not state their oil industry origins, asked people to write to the government to back weaker emissions standards.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Public comments matter in federal rule-making. The law requires that citizens’ views be taken into account before a rule is finalized.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“File an official comment to SUPPORT our President’s plan for safer, cheaper cars that WE get to choose,” read one ad, which ran for seven days in early October. The ad leads to a page that provides basic language to submit.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Facebook ads by Energy4Us prompted more than 3,300 of the 12,000 public comments on the administration’s rollback proposal, a Times analysis showed.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Credit</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Image</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Facebook ads</span> by Energy4Us prompted more than 3,300 of the 12,000 public comments on the administration’s rollback proposal</b>, a Times analysis showed.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Credit</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">More than 3,300 of the 12,000 public comments that D.O.T. has made public contain language identical to that petition, an analysis of the files showed.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The campaign was a product of the fuel and petrochemical manufacturers trade group, widely known as AFPM. However, neither the Facebook ads nor the site identified the industry group. Instead they name a group called Energy4US, which describes itself as “a coalition of consumers, businesses and workers” promoting affordable energy.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Energy4US has close ties to the industry group. According to internet domain records, Victor Adams, listed as an AFPM web manager, registered Energy4Us.org in 2015 using his work email address. Energy4US lists the group as a coalition member, along with about 50 other groups including energy interests, labor groups, a sheriff’s association and even a recreational fishing alliance.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>The AFPM board includes representatives from Exxon, Chevron, Phillips 66, Marathon and Koch Industries</b>. The companies all referred queries to the group.</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Derrick Morgan, a senior vice president at AFPM, said the group “regularly works with policymakers, coalition groups and individuals to promote shared goals,” and also will “lead and join groups like Energy4US.”</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Department of Transportation said it was “generally aware” that there were groups urging the public to make comments through online campaigns, but said it does not regulate them.</font></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
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</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">https://energy4us.org/who-we-are/</font></div></div>