BP did not point to any particular issues behind its defection. In recent years ALEC, whose members include Republican politicians as well as businesses, has been behind “model legislation” to limit renewable energy in states. The group has also condemned the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Clean Power Plan, and fought against the Affordable Care Act.
“We continually assess our engagements with policy and advocacy organizations, and based on our most recent assessment, we have determined that we can effectively pursue policy matters of current interest to BP without renewing our membership in ALEC,” a BP spokesman told ThinkProgress.
The Union of Concerned Scientists applauded the move, saying it had asked BP to leave ALEC last fall.
“BP was right to leave ALEC, an important decision consistent with the company’s public acceptance of the scientific consensus on climate change,” said Peter Frumhoff, UCS’s director of science and policy. “We are gratified that they have listened and that a growing number of people and groups are calling on fossil fuel companies to end their support for ALEC.”
UCS said Shell should also leave ALEC. Occidental Petroleum and ConocoPhillips have both already cut ties with the group. In a proxy statement for Occidental’s annual stockholders meeting before the decision, Needcor Foundation wrote, “We believe this partnership [with ALEC] may bring significant reputational and business risk to the company.”
Read more at Oil and Gas Giant BP Cuts Ties with Conservative Group ALEC
No comments:
Post a Comment