Between the start of the year and June 2008, the oil and gas industries spent $52.21 million lobbying Congress. Alternative energy industries spent $11.39 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

And look who’s tops on the alternative energy lobbying pile, with more than double the expenditures of the next on the list:

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  1. American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity: $1.87M
  2. National Biodiesel Board: $679,913
  3. Solar Energy Industries Association: $535,000
  4. Clean Energy Group: $492,500
  5. American Wind Energy Association: $460,379
  6. Poet: $360,000
  7. Rentech: $250,000
  8. Green Hunter: $220,000
  9. Noble Environmental Power: $200,000
  10. GridPoint: $172,061

Yes, coal is now an energy "alternative" … just like in the 1800s!

Notice that if you subtract coal and biodiesel — as I think you should — you end up with about 25 percent less lobbying money. No wonder the renewable tax credits keep getting blocked.

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(This is via Katie Fehrenbacher, who’s doing crackerjack work over on earth2tech.)