Political Influence
Besides direct payments (see Subsides), what else do pollution-oriented companies want from governments?
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“Real estate developers and the...gas industry” don't want local building codes going electric. ​
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“Some state governments...demanded that utilities switch away from coal...[some] demand the opposite!”
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Off the coast of Massachusetts, a wind turbine project was planned, but "'a very small group of people, with more money than most of us can possibly imagine...decided...that they didn't want it there'."
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Fossil fuel companies pay state taxes, and some have become "dependent" on this revenue.
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North Dakota's "oil and gas taxes currently comprise about a third of the state’s operating budget.”
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​ The state of Utah set up "property tax rules [to] prohibit local governments from retaining revenue
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from new renewable energy projects."
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​ In Alaska, all residents get a direct "dividend" from oil companies: "Annual...Free Money From Oil Wealth."
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Agri-businesses know how to work the political system:
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At the national level, there are multiple examples political influence:
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“There is no...standard protecting [workers]...from heat.” “OSHA...has ignored...recommendations".
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Joe Manchin has “more...money invested in dirty energy than any other Senator.”
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"Koch...joined...with Enron, BP, Mobil...to prohibit [govt]...policing of oil and gas derivatives."
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“Exxon...[is trying] to head-off...regulations on plastic...discreetly seeking to influence legislation.”
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“Toyota...GM [and others] sided with...Donald Trump against tighter [auto] emission standards.”
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Monsanto makes pesticides that destroy bee colonies: “lobbyists...successfully killed...restrictions.”
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“Businesses [guilty of] environmental offenses [got] up to $32 million in [pandemic relief] money.”
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The "factory farm model...is allowed to evade a lot of regulations.”
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“The industry...has slammed efforts by politicians...aimed at reducing meat consumption.”
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“John Thune [&] Kyrsten Sinema...filed legislation [to ban]...livestock emission permits.”
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Big Ag "companies are some of the...biggest contributors to climate change.”
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"With little or no accountability,...such [farm funding] programs...invite abuse."
Boycott
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