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Climate Change Lobby

Tech firms jump Into fray on climate lobbying

By Marianne Lavelle

Last year, Internet auction giant eBay completed the largest commercial solar installation in San Jose at the company’s environmentally friendly campus. Meanwhile, Symantec, the huge maker of Internet security software, which is actively slashing energy use, completed a first survey of its own greenhouse gas emissions — with an eye to reducing them. But both businesses were among a slew of technology companies that took an even bigger step on global warming action this year — they joined in lobbying on climate change legislation in Washington.

Climate Change Lobby

The top 10 companies lobbying on climate change

By Marianne Lavelle

Some lobbyists have even more reason than others to be hanging out in Room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building this week during the markup of the climate change bill. Just 10 lobbying firms have amassed such large client lists that they represent nearly 100 of the business interests seeking to weigh in on the landmark global warming legislation being considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Climate Change Lobby

The climate lobby's nonstop growth

By Marianne Lavelle

Makers of sneakers, blue jeans, and computer network servers joined forces late last fall and vowed a bigger push in Congress on climate change. Meanwhile, consumer-owned utilities — relatively quiet in the global warming debate compared to the big investor-owned power companies — decided they needed to weigh in once a new president took office. Food producers felt they, too, needed to watch the global warming issue more closely to protect their interests. And promoters of electric vehicles saw their long-awaited chance for a boost from Uncle Sam if their needs were addressed in a climate bill.

Climate Change Lobby

Climate change lobbying dominated by 10 firms

By Marianne Lavelle and Matthew Lewis

Hundreds of lobbyists are cramming into Room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building this week for the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s mark-up of landmark legislation to curb global warming through a complex cap-and-trade system. But some of those lobbyists will carry a bit more weight — or at least a heftier client list — than others.

A new analysis of Senate disclosure records by The Center for Public Integrity shows that more than 880 businesses and interest groups registered to lobby on climate change in the first quarter of 2009 — up more than 14 percent over the same time last year. But just 10 lobbying firms have amassed such large client lists that they represent nearly 100 of those business interests — including some of the biggest trade organizations and companies most active in the debate. Here are the top 10 firms representing climate change interests, by number of clients. Most of them boast lobbying teams heavy with former government officials and Capitol Hill staffers.

Climate Change Lobby

Less clean coal lobbying? Not exactly

By Marianne Lavelle

Don’t think that the “clean coal” blitz faded in the first months of the Obama administration just because newly filed disclosure forms show an 85 percent drop-off in lobbying by the companies participating in the effort.

Climate Change Lobby

The ‘clean coal’ lobbying blitz

By Marianne Lavelle

They’ve brought coal above ground. They’ve put the black rock on billboards in the swing states, and they’ve splashed it on full-page ads in CQ Weekly, Roll Call, Politico, and The Washington Post. They sponsored presidential debates on CNN, and their “clean coal” boosters were a fixture on the campaign trail. They’ve rolled out a series of TV spots from the firm that promised that what happens in Vegas will stay in Vegas.

Climate Change Lobby

Last minute flurry of ethanol lobbying at OMB

By Marianne Lavelle

The Obama administration is getting plenty of input on the Farm Belt’s favorite alternative fuel — ethanol. Of specific interest: whether it helps or hurts in the effort to combat climate change.

Climate Change Lobby

Disclosure filings by lobbyists still incomplete

By Matthew Lewis

After a rash of congressional ethics scandals, Congress toughened up lobbying disclosure rules by passing the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act in 2007. But just how transparent have lobbyists become since then? The answer appears to be ‘more,’ but there remains plenty of room for improvement.

Climate Change Lobby

Climate lobbying heats up at the state level

By Te-Ping Chen

As it turns out, the Center’s report last month on the 2,340 lobbyists working on federal climate change policy here in D.C. was just the tip of the proverbial (melting) iceberg. According to a new study by the National Institute on Money in State Politics (FollowTheMoney.org), since 2003, over 9,210 lobbyists have likewise descended on the nation’s state capitols to lobby on climate policy. With 36 states that have passed or are weighing plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there’s no shortage of players trying to edge in their agenda.

Climate Change Lobby

Bush climate change experts still pushing policy

By Te-Ping Chen

The Bush administration may have packed its boxes, but members of its climate change policy team have unloaded theirs at addresses all around Washington.

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