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:
- American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity: $1.87M
- National Biodiesel Board: $679,913
- Solar Energy Industries Association: $535,000
- Clean Energy Group: $492,500
- American Wind Energy Association: $460,379
- Poet: $360,000
- Rentech: $250,000
- Green Hunter: $220,000
- Noble Environmental Power: $200,000
- 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.
(This is via Katie Fehrenbacher, who’s doing crackerjack work over on earth2tech.)
