American Energy Solutions Group's National Energy Summit: Another Excuse for the GOP to Flack for the Oil Industry
At a time when congress should be focused on finding tomorrow's energy sources, Republicans are literally inviting the oil industry to Capitol Hill so they can lobby for the status quo. Every single witness showcased at the GOP's National Energy Summit has strong ties to Big Oil.
National Energy Summit: An Open Invitation For Big Oil
"Expert" #1.) Gov. John Engler: Former Governor of Michigan and President of National Association of Manufacturers
Engler's National Association of Manufacturers Lobbies On Behalf Of Big Oil Companies, Including:
- American Petroleum Institute
- BP Corporation North America
- Chevron Corporation
- Exxon Mobil Corporation
- Marathon Oil Corporation
- Occidental Petroleum Corporation
- Shell Oil Company
[NAM Lobbying Disclosure Document Q1 2008; accessed 5/4/09]
"Expert" #2.) Dr. Gabriel Calzada Alvarez: Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Spain
Alvarez's Centre For The New Europe Accepted Money From ExxonMobil. According to the Wall Street Journal's Environmental Capital blog: "And just where did that study come from? Professor Gabriel Calzada is the founder and president of the Fundacion Juan de Mariana, a libertarian think tank founded in 2005. He's also a fellow of the Center for New Europe [sic], a Brussels-based libertarian think tank that in recent years apparently accepted funding from Exxon Mobil." [Wall Street Journal, 3/30/09; emphasis added]
"Expert" #3.) Mr. Paul Cicio: President of Industrial Energy Consumers of America
Members Of The Industrial Energy Consumers of America Include:
- Abbott Laboratories
- Air Products and Chemicals
- BASF Corporation
- Dow Corning Corporation
- Eastman Chemical Company
- Evonik Degussa Corporation
- FMC Corporation
- PPG Industries
- Rain CII Carbon, LLC
- SSAB North American
- LyondellBasell Industries
- Nucor
- Ormet
- Rohm and Haas (Dow Chemical)
- Westlake Chemical Corporation
[Industrial Energy Consumers of America, accessed 5/4/09]
"Expert" #4.) Ms. Lisa Jaeger: "Served at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency"
Lisa Jaeger Is A Registered Lobbyist Whose Clients Include:
- BP Amoco
- Dynegy Inc
- Enron Corp.
- Gas Processors Association
- Great Plains Energy
- Independent Refiners Association
- National Petrochemical & Refiners Association
- Oxygenated Fuels Association
- Placid Refining Company.
- Shell Oil Company
- Southern Company
- Texas Petrochemicals Corp.
- Tesoro Refining Company
- Valero Energy Corp.
[Lobbying Disclosure Act Database, accessed 5/4/09]
"Expert" #5) Mr. Ben Lieberman: Senior Policy Analyst at The Heritage Foundation
In 2008 Alone, The Heritage Foundation Received Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars From Big Oil. In the organization's 2008 annual report, ExxonMobil is listed as a Premier Associate signifying a contribution of at least $50,000. In addition, Chevron is listed as an Associate signifying a contribution of at least $10,000. [Heritage Foundation Annual Report 2008, 5/4/09]
"Expert" #6.) Ms. Aparna Mathur: Research Fellow at American Enterprise Institute
The American Enterprise Institute Has Accepted Millions From ExxonMobil. As reported by The Guardian: "The AEI has received more than $1.6m from ExxonMobil and more than 20 of its staff have worked as consultants to the Bush administration. Lee Raymond, a former head of ExxonMobil, is the vice-chairman of AEI's board of trustees." [The Guardian, 2/2/07]
AEI Offered To Pay Scientists $10,000 To Dispute Global Warming. As reported by The Guardian: "Scientists and economists have been offered $10,000 each by a lobby group funded by one of the world's largest oil companies to undermine a major climate change report due to be published today. Letters sent by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), an ExxonMobil-funded thinktank with close links to the Bush administration, offered the payments for articles that emphasise the shortcomings of a report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)." [The Guardian, 2/2/07]
"Expert" #7.) Mr. Michael Whatley: Vice President of Consumer Energy Alliance
Affiliates Of The Consumer Energy Alliance Include:
- Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
- American Association of Petroleum Geologists
- American Exploration & Production Council
- American Gas Association
- American Petroleum Institute
- BP
- ConocoPhillips
- ExxonMobil
- Hess Corporation
- Independent Petroleum Association of America
- Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States
- Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission
- Marathon Oil Corporation
- Shell Oil
- Smith Brothers Oil
- U.S. Oil & Gas Association
[Consumer Energy Alliance; accessed 5/4/09]
"Expert" #8.) Mr. Randy Foutch: Chairman and CEO of Laredo Petroleum, Inc.
Laredo Petroleum Is An Oil Company Based In Tulsa, Oklahoma. [Laredo Petroleum, accessed 5/4/09]
