The Gaslight Effect: Lobbying in the Fossil Fuel Industry

Lobbying is a skill we all wield at some point, whether we're coaxing our family into splurging on a new television, convincing them that a puppy would make the perfect addition to the household, or planning that long-awaited vacation.

However, when applied to the fossil fuel industry, lobbying transcends the realm of everyday persuasion and becomes far more consequential.

Lobbying has Multiple Connotations, Positive and Negative

In today's politically charged landscape, the term "lobbying" carries several meanings. It can serve as a powerful mechanism for individuals and grassroots movements to engage with their representatives on issues that matter. For example, after lobbying by environmental groups, renewable energy companies, and labor unions, the California state government approved a ballot addition that will allow voters to decide this November whether the state should borrow a $10 billion bond to enact the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024. If enacted, the Act would do exactly what it says on the tin, with an emphasis on benefits to disadvantaged communities. No doubt, lobbying from the 170-group coalition paid off.

But lobbying has a darker side - one where large corporations manipulate the media, the public, and even politicians to push self-serving agendas. This undue influence often stifles the public good for corporate profit, which is especially detrimental amid the urgent fight against the climate crisis.

Traditionally, this sort of lobbying is about employing a set of strategies to influence political decisions and often involves making appeals to members of government, especially in Congress. This includes hiring lobbying firms or specialist "in-house" lobbyists to advocate on behalf of the company's business interests.

Corporate Influence Occurs on a Massive Scale

In 2022, the oil and gas sector invested approximately $124.4 million on federal lobbying efforts, as revealed by an Open Secrets analysis of lobbying records. The subjects of its lobbying included regulations on methane emissions, oil and gas extraction on federal lands and in federal waters, and financial incentives for heavily criticized 'carbon capture' technologies.

Major polluter Exxon Mobil reports spending over $7.7 million on federal lobbying in 2022 and Chevron has already paid over $3.9 million in federal lobbying expenses this year. Discontent with their own lobbying efforts, these companies are also members of The American Petroleum Institute (API), a major lobbying firm with a history of opposing clean energy policies.

For instance, the API advocated against the Inflation Reduction Act's methane tax provisions and released a plan in 2022 to end permitting on natural gas initiatives and development restrictions on land and water. In 2023, it vocally opposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy provisions and the switch to electric vehicles. Overall, the API has shown a willingness to stifle the renewable energy transition to increase its members' profits.

A newly released documentary, The White House Effect, perfectly captures how political leaders can be influenced by fossil fuel lobbying. In 1989, George H.W. Bush entered his presidency committed to supporting renewable energy to combat fossil fuel-caused climate change. By the end of his terms, he had scrapped that goal and was openly casting doubt on climate science, echoing the fossil fuel lobby's talking points.

The oil and natural gas industry's lobbying power is undeniable - and although direct advocacy is a substantial tool in big oil corporations' political influence, it isn't their only strategy.

Deception Tactics Help the Fossil Fuel Industry Gain Public Support

'Astroturfing' describes the process by which fossil fuel corporations and their affiliated organizations persuade citizens to take action against an issue by manufacturing fake grassroots movements.

Here's a classic example - in 2019, a letter that appeared to be written by a resident along the Delaware-Maryland coast was circulated to community members. Under the banner 'Save Our Beach View,' it warned neighbors of a wind farm to be constructed offshore and asked them to oppose it.

The letter encouraged readers to donate to saveourbeachview.com, a site that appeared to be run by a concerned group of residents upon first glance, but was actually created by the Caesar Rodney Institute, a libertarian think tank that has received funding from the oil industry. The group also plans to file lawsuits to fight wind farm construction throughout the East Coast. The Skipjack wind farm, subject of the 2019 letter, is set to be constructed in 2026. It will have the capacity to power 40,000 homes with renewable energy instead of fossil fuels.

In another example, FTI Consulting, a firm hired by big gas and oil corporations to promote fossil fuels, was shown to have been behind several campaigns that appeared grassroots-led on the surface. These campaigns advocated for environmentally harmful activities like fracking and Arctic drilling.

Astroturfing is made especially easy with the spread of social media. It can lead to pro-fossil fuel rhetoric showing up all over our social media feeds, spreading misinformation and giving the impression that anti-renewable energy beliefs are more popular than they really are.

Online advertising is another effective tool for the fossil fuel industry to influence public opinion. Last year the Western States Petroleum Association led an advertising campaign called 'Levanta Tu Voz,' with a clear target audience of California's Spanish speaking population, urging Latino families specifically to speak out against state laws to transition to electric vehicles. The lobbying group has been accused of exploiting this population for its own gain in doing so. Similarly, in 2021, Exxon spent $2 million on Facebook ads with taglines like "Tell Congress no tax hikes." The ads referenced an early version of the Inflation Reduction Act that planned to instate a carbon tax and heighten fees for polluting companies.

Further, corporate executives often try to brush off harm to the environment with their climate denialism. In 2013, Exxon's then chief executive, Rex Tillerson, described climate models as "not competent" and "not that good."

These statements do not bode well for Big Oil, as many companies are facing lawsuits from U.S. states for concealing scientific evidence that demonstrates climate change is real and worsened by the burning of oil and gas. The states allege that by withholding data and their own understanding of climate change, these companies have engaged in fraud or false advertising.

Earlier this month, officials in Multnomah County, which encompasses the Portland metropolitan area in Northwest Oregon, announced that gas company NW Natural has been added to a major climate lawsuit targeting fossil fuel producers. Given the circumstances, it seems likely that the number of lawsuits - both in the U.S. and globally - will continue to increase.

So, What Can Ordinary Citizens do to Prevent These Deceptive Tactics from Influencing Policy?

The simplest way to take back the power from these corporations is civic engagement. Research the candidates appearing on your ballot this election season and support those in favor of building the sustainable energy sector.

You can also engage with local, state, or national candidates by lobbying personally or as part of a grassroots campaign. Calling the office of your elected official or scheduling time to meet with them as a group sends the message that their constituents are adamant and willing to mobilize to divest from fossil fuels. Pay attention to proposed legislation to be voted on in your state and voice your support or concerns to your representative.

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