Tally of Interests on Climate Bill Tops 1,100

More
than 460 new businesses and interest groups jumped into lobbying on
global warming in the 12 weeks leading up to the House vote on the
American Clean Energy and Security Act, according to the Center for
Public Integrity's newest analysis
of lobbying records. Among the industries and organizations lobbying on
this legislation were biofuels firms and scores of interests lobbying
for potential appropriations, such as higher education institutions.
The pre-vote surge means the total number of companies and advocacy
organizations lobbying on climate issues grew 30 percent from the first
quarter to 1,150. The full story also includes an updated searchable database of lobbying disclosures.

Even as many new groups and industries enter the fray, energy
interests and heavy energy users still dominate the lobbying scene, the
Center's investigation found. Leading the pack were manufacturers, with
about 200 companies and advocacy groups, followed by the power
companies and utilities, with some 130. Coal and coal utility interests
were seen as making out well in the House climate bill, especially
regarding provisions requiring the federal government to initially give
away free of charge the carbon emissions "allowances" that likely will
eventually be worth billions of dollars.

While
the bill passed by the House kept intact the core goal of reducing the
nation's carbon dioxide emissions 17 percent by 2020, it is clear that
the Senate faces formidable challenges as this lobbying force of more
than 1,100 seeks to sway the debate.

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