WYOMING GOV FIGHTS OIL INTEREST MANIPULATIONS

For anybody who doubts industry uses interest groups to further its purposes, here is a case of a Governor catching an oil and gas bunch red-handed trying to steal the thunder of his advocacy for New Energy.

Notice the headline below. If the group in question was simply “Pro-Energy” it would not have drawn Governor Freudenthal’s ire. It is narrowly “pro” a TYPE of energy and was attempting to manipulate public opinion by giving the appearance of the Governor’s endorsement.

Interestingly, the story mentions in passing Governor Freudenthal’s doubts about NextGen, a big DOE “clean” coal project. It will be interesting to see if there are any changes after the meeting between Freudenthal and governors Bill Ritter of Colorado, Jon Huntsman of Utah and Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

Pro-Energy Group Draws ire of Wyoming Governor
Judith Kohler, September 13, 2007 (AP via Yahoo Finance)

WHO
Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal, oil-and-gas advocates Americans for American Energy (AfAE)

Wyoming's Governor wants to expand the biomass slice and add biofuels. The oil-and-gas group doesn't. Wyoming produced biomass and Wyoming produced biofuel is not American Energy HOW???

WHAT
Freudenthal sent a letter to the group cutting off his relationship with it for making "highly inappropriate assertions" such as that he approved of a "powerful new oil and gas campaign."

WHEN
Freudenthal’s letter was sent September 12.

WHERE
AfAE is based in Golden, Colorado

WHY
- AfAE promotes domestic oil-and-gas production and “targets” efforts against it. Freudenthal had at first allied with them because of their educational efforts about domestic energy supply.
- AfAE advocates for oil and gas development of western Colorado's Roan Plateau, opposes “over-regulation" of emissions, seeks more exploration in Alaska and the outer continental shelf and is working against "anti-production elements" in current Washington energy legislation.

Colorado's Roan Plateau. The oil-and-gas interest group was more anxious to drill there than Wyoming's Governor.

QUOTES
- Cara Eastwood, Freudenthal spokeswoman: "It's a complete misrepresentation of what the governor stands for…The spirit of the comments presented is just not the way our governor does business…"
- Greg Schnacke, AfAE /former director,Colorado Oil and Gas Association: "We've certainly apologized to them and we're working hard to rectify that…The effort has certainly drawn a lot of pushback from the big nationally organized environmental groups…"
- Freudenthal: "For your organization to tie this office with the policy initiatives in the communication from (Americans for American Energy) is offensive, at best…"