Can Dems land their blow against oil?

Presented by Equinor: Your guide to the political forces shaping the energy transformation

Dec 09, 2022 View in browser   By Nick Sobczyk Presented by Equinor House Oversight and Reform Chair Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.). | Francis Chung/E&E News Democrats are hoping to translate their multiyear investigation of oil companies into legal action, but they face political headwinds that could derail their efforts. The House Oversight and Reform Committee on Friday unveiled a lengthy report detailing the industry's climate-related public relations campaigns — and the companies' internal doubts about the clean energy transition. The immediate impact will be muted. Republicans plan to nix the probe when they take control of the House in January, leaving further action up to the Biden administration and climate activists who are suing oil companies in states around the country. The situation is also politically complicated. Democrats are accusing oil companies of undermining climate action by increasing production for decades to come, but over the past year, they have repeatedly blasted the industry for not pumping enough oil while Americans suffer high prices at the pump. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who led the investigation with committee Chair Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), said the report "sets the foundation for holding oil companies accountable." "They're basically saying they have the license to operate, to entrench fossil fuel infrastructure and increase emissions, while taking symbolic action that seems consistent with climate PR," Khanna said. What's in it: The report, cobbled together from documents Maloney subpoenaed for, attempts to make the case for what Democrats called "a long-running greenwashing campaign by the fossil fuel industry." In one internal document from the American Petroleum Institute, a top industry official said reducing emissions from methane is "an opportunity to further secure the industry's license to operate." It was, in effect, an admission from the industry's top trade organization that its promises to reduce climate pollution are intended to give companies social cover to keep pumping the fossil fuels that are warming the planet. In response to the report, API Senior Vice President Megan Bloomgren said the oil industry "is focused on continuing to produce affordable, reliable energy while tackling the climate challenge, and any allegations to the contrary are false." Three other organizations the committee investigated — Shell, Exxon and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — also pushed back on the Democrats' report. BP did not return requests for comment, while Chevron declined to comment on the record. Why it matters: Environmental lawyers believe the documents are a tool for the climate liability lawsuits they have launched around the country. And one of Khanna's objectives with the investigation was to draw parallels to Big Tobacco , which faced federal investigations after its executives testified before Congress in the 1990s. The committee has not yet released all the documents it obtained, which Khanna said number in the millions. Asked whether the documents could aid climate lawsuits, Khanna replied, "That's not for me to say." "The documents are there that will provide a historical record for people for years to come," Khanna said.   It's Friday! — Thank you for tuning into POLITICO's Power Switch.  I'm your host,  Nick Sobczyk . Arianna Skibell will be back soon! Power Switch is brought to you by the journalists behind E&E News and POLITICO Energy. Send your tips, comments and questions to  nsobczyk@eenews.net . CORRECTION: Thursday's edition of Power Switch incorrectly described a coal project in the United Kingdom. It is the country's first coal mine in three decades. Listen to today's POLITICO Energy podcast Today in POLITICO Energy's podcast: Catherine Morehouse looks at why transmission was a sticking point in permitting negotiations.   A message from Equinor: The energy transition is the defining opportunity of our time. We all have a role to play. At Equinor, we're doing our part by growing our renewable energy portfolio and lowering emissions from production. By the time the global population reaches 9 billion in 2050, our goal is to have net-zero emissions. Discover more about Equinor at www.equinor.com/USA.   electric future An electric vehicle charges at an EVgo fast charging station. | Paul Sancya/AP Photo Colorado has a plan to reach 100 percent electric vehicles — without banning gas-powered cars. The state rolled out a proposal Thursday that aims to get internal combustion engines off its roads by 2050. The idea is to use carrots rather than sticks. Unlike other blue states looking to phase out conventional vehicles by regulation, Colorado is emphasizing electric bikes, incentives for EVs and a vast build-out of charging infrastructure. Read more here from E&E News' David Ferris.   A message from Equinor:   Power Centers Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) poses for a portrait in her office on Capitol Hill on Thursday. | Francis Chung/POLITICO Sinema's switcheroo Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema made waves Friday morning by announcing she would defect from the Democratic Party and become an independent, as POLITICO's Burgess Everett revealed in a major scoop this morning . But the move might not do much to change the Senate, writes Timothy Cama . Democrats will remain in control of the chamber, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Sinema would be allowed to keep her committee assignments. Environmental groups nonetheless accused the centrist lawmaker of betraying the party. Grid worries Attacks on electric power infrastructure in four states over the past two months are raising alarm about the vulnerabilities of the nation's grid, writes Miranda Willson . At least two of the attacks have involved gun fire. "It remains troubling and highlights how vulnerable is our critical infrastructure," said Richard Mroz, a senior adviser at the grid security advocacy group Protect Our Power. Total recall French oil major TotalEnergies is pulling out of its stake in Russian energy company Novatek, a move that will cost $3.7 billion, writes Victor Jack . TotalEnergies had come under scrutiny for keeping its Russian investments after the invasion of Ukraine.   A message from Equinor: The energy transition is the defining opportunity of our time. Our world needs energy to keep moving forward — but it must be affordable, reliable, and accessible. We all have a role to play. At Equinor, we're doing our part by helping accelerate the energy transition. We're growing our renewable energy portfolio and lowering emissions from production. We're already on the way to powering 2,000,000 New York homes with energy from the Empire Wind and Beacon Wind offshore wind projects. We're creating jobs, building tomorrow's infrastructure, and sparking new economic activity. But for us, that's only the beginning. By the time the global population reaches 9 billion in 2050, our goal is to have net-zero emissions. Discover more about Equinor at http://www.equinor.com/USA.   In Other News Oil rigs extract petroleum. | David McNew/Getty Images Russian crude: Russia could cut its crude production after G-7 nations agreed to cap the price of its oil . Long winter: Cold weather in Europe is testing the continent's preparation for a winter without Russian natural gas. Subscriber Zone A showcase of some of our best subscriber content. Sam Brinton is deputy assistant secretary for the Department of Energy's Office of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition. | Francis Chung/E&E News/POLITICO Sam Brinton, the Department of Energy's lead nuclear waste official, was charged with a second felony for allegedly stealing from an airport luggage carousel . The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will consider a long-awaited transmission proposal in what could be Chair Richard Glick's final meeting . The Inflation Reduction Act won't meet President Joe Biden's climate goals , according to a new report. That's it for today. Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend!   Follow us on Twitter Arianna Skibell @ariannaskibell   Follow us

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