NEW: In a first-of-its-kind report, we looked at how utilities use charitable giving as a means of gaining undue influence over regulatory policy and politics.
Thread with some key findings...🧵 1/11
energyandpolicy.org/strings-attach…
Thread with some key findings...🧵 1/11
energyandpolicy.org/strings-attach…
Drawing from tax forms and regulatory filings, we looked at the charitable giving of 10 large utilities in a five-year span from 2013 - 2017. Between them, those utilities gave away *over $1 billion* during that stretch. 2/11
This level of giving is *massive*. That $1 billion, from just 10 companies, is 13 times greater than the $78 million that the entire utility sector (including PACs and employees) contributed to federal elections in the '14, '16, and '18 cycles. 3/11
If even a small fraction of utilities' charitable giving is politically motivated, then this tool of political manipulation may be much more influential than better known ones like campaign contributions or lobbying. 4/11
The report shows that much of the giving is indeed politically motivated. This isn't just about public relations, though that's certainly a part of it. We document how each utility used philanthropy specifically to manipulate politics, policies and regulation. 5/11
Some examples: Entergy is infamous for paying actors to testify on behalf of a gas proposal, but that's not the only way Entergy paid for testimony.
Individuals testified from at least nine organizations who had received gifts from the Entergy Charitable Foundation. 6/11
Individuals testified from at least nine organizations who had received gifts from the Entergy Charitable Foundation. 6/11
When Arizona Public Service pursued a controversial rate increase, it submitted a supportive letter to regulators signed by civil society organizations. 15 of the organizations whose representatives signed the letter had received $1.7 million from APS from 2013 - 2018. 7/11
In Michigan, the few supporters of DTE Energy's gas-tilted resource plan included five speakers who represented charities or churches that collectively had received at least $578,500 from the DTE Energy Foundation since 2013, mostly representing communities of color. 8/11
One disturbing theme is that utilities use charitable giving to gain political support from organizations that represent low-income communities and communities of color, even though those communities often bear the greatest brunt of air pollution and climate change. 9/11
For more on how fossil fuel companies attempt to co-opt and manipulate communities of color, read the great illustrated primer from the @ECJP_NAACP, "Fossil Fueled Foolery." 10/11
Utility experts often talk about regulatory capture. This is a type of "civil society capture" that is discussed far less. Check out the report for more details.
energyandpolicy.org/strings-attach… 11/11
energyandpolicy.org/strings-attach… 11/11
