Today’s environmental
movement is fueled by
a group of left-leaning
foundations seeking
to manage development
of America’s energy
resources.
Environmental
organizations
far outpace spending
by conservative and
free market groups.
Their money plays
a major role in shaping
public opinion on
fossil fuels.
American energy politics
feature a clash between
two groups.
One group wants to
unlock America’s vast
natural resources for
affordable, abundant energy.
Another group seeks to halt,
delay and litigate the use
of traditional energy sources,
in the name of addressing
climate change.
They assault America’s use
of coal, oil, and natural gas,
without offering a viable,
affordable alternative.
"BIG GREEN"
There are over a dozen
left-leaning foundations,
and over 2,000
environmental activist
groups in all 50 states.
The foundations have spent
billions of dollars on
aggressive climate litigation,
the promotion of renewable
energy sources, and new
energy regulations.
Environmental groups
created a false narrative
that depicts their efforts as a
“David vs. Goliath” battle.
Their narrative is
the usual leftist lie.
Big Green funding
has been linked
to individuals
who stand to benefit
financially from the
adoption of various
environmental policies.
Also, there are
foreigners trying to
influence energy policy
within the U.S.
The accusation that coal,
oil and natural gas
supporters outspend
the environmental
movement on climate
lobbying is based on
a false assumption
that ALL fossil fuel
corporations' lobbying
spending is against
climate actions.
Related groups,
such as the
transportation
industry and
utility companies,
are placed in the
pro-fossil fuel
lobbying camp
too, even though
these groups
often lobby
in favor of
climate action.
Some of these entities
lobby for a carbon tax.
The auto industry may
pay extra to comply with
emissions standards,
but they also take
subsidies for electric
and hybrid vehicles.
In reality,
little of climate
lobbying
expenditures
by fossil fuel and
transportation
corporations,
electric utilities,
and affiliated
trade organizations
was used to FIGHT
climate action.
Fossil fuel corporations
are also huge players
in the renewables and
carbon-offsetting
industries.
Many environmental groups
are 501(c)(3)s and are
restricted from lobbying.
So they fund academic
studies and suing
fossil fuel corporations,
states, and the federal
government.
When these factors
are considered,
the environmental
movement is huge.
They certainly get
almost 100% of the
coverage by the
mainstream media.
In the end, the total
annual income for
conservative think tanks
and the money that coal,
oil and natural gas
industries spent on
climate lobbying,
is tiny.
Meanwhile,
Big Green promotes
climate change
"research"and
environmentalism
in higher education.
The most powerful
international opponent
of American energy
is the Russian government,
and its state-run oil and gas
monopoly, Gazprom.
Much of Central
and Eastern Europe
is dependent on
Russian energy,
but the explosion
of United States'
oil and gas exports,
as a result of the shale
boom, threatens Russia’s
economic power.
We should not be surprised
by charges of Russian
orchestration behind
European anti-fracking,
and other environmental
protests.