Clean Energy Sector Ups Spending on Lobbyists

By Tracey de Morsella on August 17, 2009 3 Comments A123 Systems, advocates, Algenol Biofuels, Amyris Biotechnologies, biofuel firms, Bracewell & Giuliani, Capitol Hill, Center for Public Integrity, center for Responsive Politics, clean energy, clean energy industry, clean energy industry expenditures, clean energy lobbyists, clean energy sector, Clean Energy Technologies, Climate Change, climate change lobbying, Democratic Congress, economic downturn, energy debate, energy sector, Environmental groups, environmental lobbyists, ExxonMobil, fossil fuel industry, GridPoint, Ice Energy, influence policy, Jeffrey Holmstead, lobbyists, Marianne Lavelle, marine power sector, New Energy Finance, next-generation biofuels, Obama administration, oil and natural, pre-earnings firms, Qteros, Saffire Energy, Senate Office of Public Records, solar modules, SolarCity, stimulus funds, Tessera, venture capital-financed start-ups, wind sector, Xunlight, Zeachem

A recent report from research firm New Energy Finance, spending on Washington lobbyists by the clean energy industry has accelerated rapidly in recent years, but still lags behind that the fossil fuel industry. Through the first six months of 2009, the sector spent an unprecedented $r12.1 million on lobbying, According the Center for Responsive Politics, During the same period, oil and natural gas spent $82.2 million on lobbying, with ExxonMobil alone contributing $14.9 million. That’s $2.8 million more that the entire clean energy sector.