Protesters slam gas group’s use of customers’ money to thwart climate efforts

A group of advocates and Democratic senators gathered in Washington DC on Tuesday to decry utilities’ practice of spending customers’ money to advance a pro-fossil fuel agenda.

“Americans are already paying the price of climate change,” said Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts at a gathering at the US Capitol. “They shouldn’t have to pay the salaries of those who are fueling it.”

The event marked the launch of a campaign by the non-profit Gas Leaks Project targeting the American Gas Association, the largest trade group for gas companies which represents some 200 utilities.

In an emailed statement, the CEO of the American Gas Association, Karen Harbert, said: “Any claim that we have not been a leader in advancing environmental goals is simply not accurate,” and said the advocates are “willfully spreading misinformation and promoting ill-informed energy policy”.

She said the gas industry has also “committed to collaboration with policymakers and regulators to help achieve our nation’s ambitious climate and energy goals”.

Yet the AGA, with annual budgets between $30m and $60m, has long worked to thwart climate efforts. Last month, for instance, the lobbying group came under fire for successfully working to strip decarbonization measures from building codes. It has also lobbied against stricter federal energy efficiency regulations and fought to pass bills banning state and municipal efforts to phase out gas. That political activity is funded primarily by its members’ dues, which are in turn funded by ratepayer dollars.

The extraction and use of gas, called natural gas by industry interests, emits planet-heating and toxic pollution. Reports show the AGA has been aware of these dangers for 50 years, but has continued to undercut