After mineral owners present evidence to the North Dakota Legislature that oil companies are deducting approximately $1 billion annually in royalty payments without adequate oversight or transparency, lawmakers reject bipartisan legislation requiring companies to provide electronic payment details …
North Dakota LegislatureBrad BekkedahlDon LongmuirRon NessXTO Energy+3 moreregulatory-capturecorporate-corruptionoil-industrylegislative-failuremineral-rights+2 more
The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico marked the beginning of one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history. The explosion killed 11 workers and caused a massive oil spill that would leak approximately 134 million gallons of oil over 87 days. The disaster …
BP (British Petroleum)Transocean LtdHalliburtonMinerals Management ServiceBarack Obama+2 moreenvironmental-disastercorporate-negligenceoil-industryregulatory-capturegulf-coast
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
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
Vice President Dick Cheney established the National Energy Policy Development Group conducting secret meetings with oil industry executives while excluding environmental groups. Between late January and April 2001, Cheney’s task force held at least 40 meetings with energy interests versus just …
Dick CheneyExxonMobilShell OilBP AmericaConoco+2 moreenergy-policycorporate-capturecheneyoil-industrysecrecy+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 …
President Reagan appoints James Watt, former president of Mountain States Legal Foundation (funded by Coors and oil companies), as Interior Secretary. Watt immediately opens federal lands to mining and drilling, reverses environmental protections, and staffs the department with industry executives. …
Ronald ReaganJames WattMountain States Legal FoundationCoors CompanyOil Industryreagan-eraregulatory-capturederegulationinterior-departmentoil-industry
On August 19, 1953, the CIA executed Operation Ajax (known to the British as Operation Boot), a covert action that overthrew Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh and restored authoritarian power to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The coup marked the first time the CIA …
Central Intelligence AgencyKermit Roosevelt Jr.Allen DullesJohn Foster DullesMohammad Mosaddegh+4 moreintelligence-overreachforeign-interventionoil-industrycorporate-interestsauthoritarian-support+1 more
John D. Rockefeller incorporated the Standard Oil Company in Ohio with $1 million in capital, transforming an 1863 partnership into what would become America’s most powerful monopoly. The company was formed with Rockefeller, his brother William, Henry Flagler, Samuel Andrews, and other …
John D. RockefellerStandard Oil CompanyHenry FlaglerSamuel AndrewsWilliam Rockefellercorporate-powermonopolygilded-ageoil-industryinstitutional-capture