Monday, February 20, 2012

Environmental Group Takes Millions In Fracking Money

Environmentalists viewed the natural gas industry as an ally against the coal industry and some groups took very large donations from a laeding natural gas hydraulic fracturing (fracking) company.

The Sierra Club took $26.1 million in contributions from Chesapeake Energy and its affiliated companies between 2007 and 2010. 

Last year, the Sierra Club walked away from Chesapeake and an offer of an additional $30 million in donations, stating, “Identifying a common area of interest is very different from having our financial health dependent
on a particular industry, or particular company,”

The American Lung Association also has accepted an undisclosed amount from the company since 2009 for its “Fighting for Air” branding campaign.

Natural gas entrepreneur T. Boone Pickens gave $453,250 to the liberal think tank Center for American Progress (CAP) in 2008 and 2009 through his nonprofit groups, to support its National Clean Energy Project events.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), whose leaders Mc-Clendon wooed and who toured field operations, ultimately declined the funding he offered.  (Wash Post, 2/20/2012)

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