Documents revealed that Vice President Dick Cheney’s Energy Task Force had met extensively with executives from major oil companies, though chief executives denied involvement when testifying before the Senate Energy and Commerce committees. The revelation exposed how the Energy and Commerce …
House Energy and Commerce CommitteeDick CheneyExxonMobilAmerican Petroleum Instituteregulatory-captureclimate-changeoil-industrylobbyingcongressional-corruption
White House Council on Environmental Quality Chief of Staff Phil Cooney was exposed systematically censoring climate science reports to exaggerate uncertainties and diminish human influence on climate change. Whistleblower Rick Piltz revealed Cooney made 294 edits to the 364-page Strategic Plan for …
Phil CooneyRick PiltzJames HansenExxonMobilAmerican Petroleum Instituteclimate-censorshipscience-manipulationexxonmobilcooneyapi
The Bush administration releases the National Energy Policy, revealing extensive incorporation of Enron’s recommendations. Analysis shows the task force adopted “all or significant portions” of Enron’s recommendations in seven of eight policy areas, with at least 17 policies …
Dick CheneyGeorge W. BushEnronKenneth LayNational Energy Policy Development Group+1 moreenronenergy-policycorporate-captureregulatory-capturecorruption+1 more
The Bush administration releases the National Energy Policy report developed by Cheney’s Energy Task Force, containing 105 recommendations that overwhelmingly favor fossil fuel industries while giving minimal attention to renewable energy. The report recommends opening the Arctic National …
George W. BushDick CheneyNational Energy Policy Development GroupExxonMobilShell Oil+6 moreenergy-policycorporate-captureoil-industrycheney-task-forceregulatory-capture+3 more
On March 13, 2001, President George W. Bush announced the United States would not implement the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, signaling the beginning of a systematic rollback of environmental protections coordinated with fossil fuel industry lobbyists. The decision came just weeks after Vice …
George W. BushChristine Todd WhitmanDick CheneyAmerican Petroleum InstituteExxonMobil+2 moreenvironmentaleparegulatory-captureclimate-denialbush-administration+1 more
The American Petroleum Institute (API) organized and funded a Global Climate Science Communications Plan, revealed in the leaked “Victory” memo outlining a multiyear, multimillion-dollar scheme to create uncertainty about established climate science. Created months after the Kyoto …
American Petroleum InstituteRandy RandolExxonMobilChevronSouthern Companyclimate-denialdisinformationfossil-fuelspublic-manipulationmedia-influence
In April 1998, the American Petroleum Institute (API) convened a secret meeting of oil industry executives and public relations consultants to draft the “Global Climate Science Communications Plan.” The leaked document reveals a coordinated strategy to manufacture doubt about climate …
American Petroleum InstituteExxonMobilChevronSouthern CompanyGlobal Climate Coalition+1 moreenvironmentalclimate-denialcorporate-disinformationfossil-fuelsregulatory-capture
On November 15, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Clean Air Act Amendments, the most significant update to air pollution law since 1970. While the law achieved real environmental gains, the legislative process demonstrated how industry successfully shaped regulatory approaches to minimize …
George H.W. BushEnvironmental Defense FundEdison Electric InstituteAmerican Petroleum InstituteNational Coal Association+1 moreenvironmentalclean-air-actregulatory-captureemissions-tradingcorporate-lobbying+1 more
On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska, spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil and devastating 1,300 miles of coastline. Beyond the immediate environmental catastrophe, Exxon’s response established a template for corporate liability evasion …
In 1989, major fossil fuel and automobile companies formed the Global Climate Coalition (GCC), an industry front group that would spend over a decade blocking international climate action while publicly claiming the science was uncertain. Internal documents later revealed the coalition’s own …
ExxonMobilShellChevronFord Motor CompanyGeneral Motors+3 moreenvironmentalclimate-denialcorporate-lobbyingfossil-fuelsregulatory-capture+1 more
In August 1988, Ron Arnold and Alan Gottlieb convened the Multiple Use Strategy Conference in Reno, Nevada, launching the “Wise Use” movement. The conference brought together 250 representatives from timber, mining, ranching, and oil interests to coordinate an industry-funded campaign …
Ron ArnoldAlan GottliebCenter for the Defense of Free EnterpriseAmerican Petroleum InstituteNational Mining Association+2 moreenvironmentalastroturfcorporate-lobbyingpublic-landsregulatory-capture+1 more
On December 11, 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund. While the law represented a landmark response to Love Canal and thousands of toxic waste sites nationwide, industry lobbying had …
Jimmy CarterChemical Manufacturers AssociationAmerican Petroleum InstituteU.S. Chamber of CommerceInsurance industry lobbyistsenvironmentalsuperfundtoxic-wasteregulatory-capturecorporate-lobbying+1 more
On October 18, 1972, Congress overrode President Nixon’s veto of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments, known as the Clean Water Act. The overwhelming bipartisan override (52-12 in the Senate, 247-23 in the House) represented a rare defeat for industrial polluters who had lobbied …
Richard NixonEdmund MuskieAmerican Petroleum InstituteChemical Manufacturers AssociationNational Association of Manufacturers+1 moreenvironmentalclean-water-actregulatory-capturecorporate-lobbyingpollution+1 more
On December 31, 1970, President Richard Nixon signed the Clean Air Act of 1970, establishing the most comprehensive air quality legislation in history. The act created national ambient air quality standards, gave the newly formed Environmental Protection Agency enforcement authority, set emission …
President Richard NixonSenator Edmund MuskieAmerican Petroleum InstituteNational Coal AssociationAutomotive Industry+1 moreenvironmental-regulationpublic-healthcorporate-lobbyingregulatory-reform
On December 17, 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Clean Air Act of 1963, the first federal legislation to establish a framework for controlling air pollution at the national level. The act authorized $95 million for research and state grants to develop pollution control programs, and gave …
President John F. KennedyPresident Lyndon B. JohnsonU.S. CongressAmerican Petroleum InstituteNational Coal Associationenvironmental-regulationpublic-healthcorporate-lobbyingregulatory-reform
On June 29, 1956, President Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, creating the Interstate Highway System—the largest public works project in American history. While celebrated as an engineering triumph, the $25 billion program (equivalent to over $300 billion today) systematically …
Dwight D. EisenhowerU.S. CongressBureau of Public RoadsGeneral MotorsAmerican Petroleum Institute+2 moreinfrastructureinstitutional-racismurban-renewalcorporate-interestsautomotive-industry