Friday, June 1, 2012

Sierra Club took $26M from natural gas - Dan Berman - POLITICO.com

Sierra Club took $26M from natural gas - Dan Berman - POLITICO.com


Sierra Club took $26M from natural gas

Michael Brune says his group has changed its stance since 2010. | John Shinkle/POLITICO
The Sierra Club took $26 million from one of the nation's largest natural gas companies for three years while at the same time hawking natural gas as a clean, green energy source, the group admitted Thursday.
The natural gas cash came between 2007 and 2010 as the Sierra Club was increasing its efforts to fight coal-fired powered plants, the group's executive director, Michael Brune, wrote in a blog post.
At the time, the Sierra Club, "working with the best science at the time and with extensive input from staff and volunteers, determined that natural gas, while far from ideal as a fuel source, might play a necessary role in helping us reach the clean energy future our children deserve," Brune wrote.
Meanwhile, the gas industry was working to position itself as a cleaner alternative to coal, especially as Congress debated climate change legislation.
"The idea was that we shared at least one common purpose — to move our country away from dirty coal," Brune wrote.
Time Magazine, which first reported the news Thursday afternoon, said most of the donations came from Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon.
Former Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope often spoke warmly about gas as an alternative to coal in power plants. But now, the group is considering calling for natural gas to be phased out by 2050 — about 20 years after it wants coal eliminated.
Now, Brune says the group definitely isn't a fan of natural gas, due to concerns over hydraulic fracturing.
"It's time to stop thinking of natural gas as a 'kinder, gentler' energy source," Brune wrote. "What's more, we do not have an effective regulatory system in this country to address the risks that gas drilling poses on our health and communities. The scope of the problems from under-regulated drilling, as well as a clearer understanding of the total carbon pollution that results from both drilling and burning gas, have made it plain that, as we phase out coal, we need to leapfrog over gas whenever possible in favor of truly clean energy."
Chesapeake spokesman Jim Gipson told Time the decision to end the funding in 2010 was mutual. "Over the years, Chesapeake has been proud to support a number of organizations that share our interest in clean air and agree that America’s abundant supplies of clean natural gas represent the most affordable, available and scalable fuel to power a more prosperous and environmentally responsible future for our country," Gipson said.
This article first appeared on POLITICO Pro at 8:13 p.m. on February 2, 2012.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72400.html#ixzz1wXmMm82Q

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