Grist: "The fossil fuel industry is spending record amounts to keep California from regulating it," by Joseph Winters.
In the first 6 months of this year the fossil fuel industries poured $17 million into fighting climate + worker-safety legislation. "Much of the spending was directed against legislation proposing new costs + liabilities for the fossil fuel industry, like a state bill that would make companies pay for rebuilding following climate-intensified natural disasters."
"The top spenders in the oil-and-gas lobbying category included the Western States Petroleum Association, which spent $4.3 M over the first half of the year; Chevron, whose spending amounted to $3.7 M; and Phillips 66, an oil refiner that spent just over half a million dollars." Much of the money went to consultants and alleged “front groups” that present themselves as grassroots operations but are funded by the fossil fuel industry, like Californians for Energy Independence.
"One big target of the sector’s lobbying was California’s cap-and-invest program, which requires companies to pay for a finite—and declining—number of emissions permits each year...program covers roughly 80% of California’s economy + is considered critical to achieving the state’s climate targets, including carbon neutrality by 2045."
The sector also fought a bill, currently awaiting passage by the state Senate, to extend California’s Displaced Oil and Gas Workers Fund. "Established under a 2022 law, the $30 million fund distributes grants to help oil + gas industry workers transition to new careers."
Other pending bills that oil companies lobbied against propose creating a task force on safe staffing guidelines for oil refineries; preventing fossil fuel companies from abandoning methane-leaking oil wells; and adding new safety + public comment requirements for offshore oil pipelines.
As for those dastardly methane-leaking oil wells? There are > 100,000 of these wells in this state alone. Companies are often able to evade responsibility for plugging them.
Money equals power, even in what is often thought of as a blue state. So, let's color it blue with oil dripping down the sides.
