GOP wants to investigate green groups for ‘collusion’ against US energy

Axios reported On Friday, House Republicans will launch an investigation into environmental NGOs based on a right-wing rumor that foreign powers, including China and Russia, are using nonprofit green groups to influence US policy. This unsubstantiated rumor has been pushed for years by a public relations firm employed by the fossil fuel industry to run astroturf campaigns that attack members of the environmental movement.

In a blog post earlier this month, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said he would use his leadership in Congress to investigate, among other things, “the collusion of environmental NGOs with the Russia and China to harm American Energy”. The idea of ​​environmental NGOs colluding with foreign governments also caught the attention of House Natural Resources President Bruce Westerman, who launched an investigation in non-profit organization the World Resources Institute in 2018.

“Chinese authorities are continuously working to control environmental news and reporting in an effort to counter the country’s status as the world’s biggest polluter,” read a press release about the investigation. “The Committee examines WRI’s role in assisting efforts to manage China’s perception of pollution control and its international stance on environmental issues in ways that could be detrimental to the United States. “

Westerman told Axios that other energy issues have a higher priority on his agenda, but if there is evidence that the Chinese government is funding their actions, we need to pursue them. I don’t care what kind of band they are.

McCarthy and Westerman’s interest in this topic stems from a series of letters sent by GOP politicians to various Green groups asking about alleged foreign influence.

“We write to you with significant concerns that progressive American advocacy groups may advance the economic and environmental policies of the United States government to benefit the Chinese Communist Party,” reads a statement. letter sent last year to the executive director of the Sunrise Movement, Varshini Prakash. Another one lettersent in March to the League of Conservation Voters, alleges that “Russian President Vladimir Putin funds certain environmental non-governmental organizations around the world to create fear among other nations that use [fracking] to ensure dependence on Russian gas.

These allegations and investigations do not come out of nowhere. In March, the Washington Post denied the claims on Russian ties to green groups, linking the original rumor to a group called the Environmental Policy Alliance, which began pushing it in 2015. Although the Environmental Policy Alliance may sound like the name of a legitimate nonprofit, it’s actually run by a public relations firm known as The Berman Group. , which has a long history of providing corporate astroturfing services, including founding front groups that run campaigns to criticize government agencies, nonprofits, labor unions and other entities. (The company’s strategies are so well known in Washington that in 2011, 60 Minutes dubbed founder Richard Berman “Dr. Evil.”)

The Berman Group has significant ties to the fossil fuel industry and has run campaigns using its front groups to attack anti-fracking groups and make (really savage) videos attack the EPA and regulations for reduce air pollution. In 2014, Berman told fossil fuel executives at an industry meeting that they should use tough tactics when fighting environmental groups.

“Think of this as an endless war,” Berman said, according to the New York Times, who obtained a recording of the meeting. “And you have to budget for that.” In the same speech, Berman’s colleague described how the company dug into the personal lives of leaders of groups like the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council in an effort to find ground to publicize.

“People always ask me a question all the time, ‘How do I know I won’t be found out as a supporter of what you’re doing? Berman said at the 2014 meeting. There is total anonymity. People don’t know who supports us.

Now, it looks like all that money spent spreading rumors about green bands is finally paying off. It’s good to know that taxpayers’ money helps fund a claim investigation. constituted by a “Dr. Bad.”