Changes

{{#badges:Front groups}}The '''Consumer Energy Alliance''' (CEA) is a nonprofit organization and a [[front group]] for the energy industry that opposes political efforts to regulate carbon standards while advancing deep water and land-based drilling for oil and methane gas. The CEA supports lifting moratoria on offshore and land-based oil and natural gas drilling, encourages the creation and expansion of petroleum refineries and easing the permitting process for drilling. The group also says it supports energy conservation. CEO portrays itself as seeking to ensure a "proper balance" between traditional non-renewable and extractive energy sources and alternative energy sources. The group also supports construction of the [[Keystone XL Pipeline]].<ref> Consumer Energy Alliance [http://consumerenergyalliance.org/2011/11/cea-encouraged-by-passage-of-legislation-to-move-forward-keystone-xl-project/ CEA Encouraged by passaof passage of of Legislation to Move Forward Keystone XL Project], news release posted on organizational website, undated, accessed December 19, 2011</ref><ref>Consumer Energy Alliance [http://consumerenergyalliance.org/2011/07/cea-applauds-passage-of-keystone-xl-legislation/ CEA Applaudes Applauds Passage of Keystone XL Legislation], news release, undated, accessed December 19, 2011</ref><ref>Consumer Energy Alliance [http://consumerenergyalliance.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/brochure_cea_01oct08.pdf Supporting Thoughtful Utilization and Development of Energy Resources] (pdf), organizational/promotional brochure, accessed December 19, 2011</ref>

The CEA was created in the late 2000s by [[Michael Whatley]], a founding partner of a Washington, D.C.-based Republican lobbying group [[HBW Resources]] that has close ties to the Alberta, Canada tar sands industry. In a January 25, 2010 pro-industry strategy proposal to an Alberta government official, Whatley wrote that he was interested in "conducting a grassroots operation" in "target states" that would "generate significant opposition to discriminatory ow carbon fuels standards" that were created to address climate change. Whatley created the Consumer Energy Alliance CEA with backing from big energy producers [[BP]], [[Chevron]], [[ExxonMobil]], [[Marathon]], [[Shell]] and the Norwegian energy company [[Statoil]]. Despite it's backing by big corporations, the group claimed it provided "a voice for consumers interested in vital public issues."<ref>Geoff Dembicki [http://www.salon.com/2011/12/15/big_oil_and_canada_thwarted_u_s_carbon_standards/singleton/ Big Oil and Canada Thwarted U.S. Carbon Standards], published article, December 15, 2011</ref>

A December 15, 2011 article in ''Salon.com '' reported that

E-mails obtained under the [[Freedom of Information Act (USA)|U.S. Freedom of Information Act ]] reveal the relationship between the Consumer Energy Alliance and the energy industry, and show the group is part of a coordinated [[astroturf]] strategy to create an [[echo chamber]] putting forth pro-industry messaging. <ref>Geoff Dembicki [http://www.salon.com/2011/12/15/big_oil_and_canada_thwarted_u_s_carbon_standards/slide_show/ Slide Show], copies of internal emails obtained through FOIA by Salon.com, Salon.com, accessed December 19, 2011</ref> ==Outer Continental Shelf Governors Coalition== The Outer Continental Shelf Governors Coalition (OCSGC) was founded in 2011 and claims to be comprised of "nine coastal state governors who support policies that encourage an expansion of American energy, particularly U.S. offshore energy resources."<ref>Outer Continental Shelf Governors Coalition, "[http://ocsgovernors.org/ Homepage]," organizational website, accessed May 2015.</ref> However, a 2015 investigation by The Institute for Southern Studies found that the group "is largely run and managed by two groups tied to the oil and gas industry," HBW Resources and the CEA.<ref>Sue Sturgis, "[http://www.southernstudies.org/2015/04/drive-to-drill-energy-lobbyists-behind-governors-c.html DRIVE TO DRILL: Energy lobbyists behind governors' crusade for Atlantic oil]," ''Institute for Southern Studies'', April 30, 2015.</ref> The Center for Public Integrity also reports that "much of the governors coalition work has been carried out by HBW Resources and CEA, a group that’s channeled millions in corporate funding to become a leading advocate at the state level for drilling."<ref>Nicholas Kusnetz, "[http://www.publicintegrity.org/2014/11/24/16312/governors-and-oil-industry-work-hand-hand-offshore-drilling-group Governors and oil industry work hand in hand in offshore drilling group]," ''Center for Public Integrity'', November 24, 2014.</ref>

* [[David Blackmon]], Director of Government Affairs (lobbyist) for the El Paso Corporation, a methane gas drilling and pipeline company based in Houston, Texas. Blackmon previously served as Communications Manager for Shell Oil Company. <ref>El Paso [http://www.elpaso.com/profile/ Profile Overview], corporate website, accessed December 19, 2011</ref><ref>Consumer Energy Alliance [http://consumerenergyalliance.org/about/cea-board-of-directors/david-blackmon/ David Blackmon], biosketch, accessed December 19, 2011</ref> * Dave Harbour, Executive Director of the Consumer Energy Alliance of Alaska. He coordinated public relations strategies for two dozen gas pipeline members of Arctic Gas Consortium the lobby Congress to support passage of the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act of 1976.<ref>Consumer Energy Alliance [http://consumerenergyalliance.org/about/cea-board-of-directors/dave-harbour-apr/ Dave Harbour, APR], biosketch, accessed December 19, 2011</ref>*[[David Holt]], President (and a managing partner at the oil and energy industry lobbying group HBW Resources) <ref>LinkedIn [http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=19852728&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=be6I&locale=en_US&srchid=12592b8c-8e48-4a58-9e89-76eb510a1973-0&srchindex=1&srchtotal=2&goback=.fps_PBCK_*1_David_Holt_*1_*1_*1_Consumer+Energy+Alliance_*2_CP_Y_*1_*1_*1_false_1_R_*1_*51_*1_*51_true_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2&pvs=ps&trk=pp_profile_name_link David Holt], Professional profile, accessed December 19, 2011</ref> *John Heimlich, formerly with United Airlines financial planning *Melissa Taldykin, formerly of the [[Carlyle Group]]*Rich Moskowitz, a lawyer for the trucking industry <ref>Consumer Energy Alliance [http://consumerenergyalliance.org/about/cea-board-of-directors/ Board of Directors], organizational website, accessed December 19, 2011</ref>

* Dave Harbour, Executive Director of the Consumer ==Energy Alliance industry supporters/affiliates of Alaska. He coordinated public relations strategies for two dozen gas pipeline members CEA==*Alyeska Pipeline Service Company*American Association of Arctic Petroleum Geologists*American Exploration & Production Council*[[American Gas Consortium the lobby Congress to support passage of the Alaska Natural Association]]*[[American Petroleum Institute]]*[[American Public Gas Transportiation Act Association]]*[[American Public Power Association]]*[[Apache]] Corporation*[[Association of 1976Oil Pipe Lines]]*[[Barney’s Pumps, Inc.]]*[[BP]]*CCC Group, Inc.<ref>Consumer *The Center for North American Energy Security*[[Chevron]]*Choice! Energy*Comanco*Delta American Fuels*Devon Energy Corporation*[[El Paso Energy Corporation*[[Environmentally Conscious Consumers for Oil Shale]]*Environmentally Friendly Drilling Project*[[Exelon Corporation]]*[[ExxonMobil]]*Florida Handling Systems*Florida Petroleum Council*Foresight Wind*Gas Technology Institute*Green Earth Fuels*Greenline Industries*Gulf Coast Clean Energy Alliance Application Center*[[Halliburton]]*HD Supply*[[http:Hess Corporation]]*Houston BioDiesel*Houston Clean Energy Park*Houston Renewable Energy Network*HT//consumerenergyallianceDcR Engineering, Inc.org/about/cea-board-*[[Independent Petroleum Association of-directors/dave-harbour-apr/ Dave HarbourAmerica]]*Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission*Lakeridge Energy Corporation*[[Marathon Corporation]]*Material Transfer Industries, APRLLC*Metal Treating Institute*Moretrench*MS Industrial Corporation*National Algae Association*National Ocean Industries Association*National Petrochemical and Refiners Association*Natural Gas Supply Association*New England Fuel Institute*Nuclear Energy For Texans*[[Nuclear Energy Institute]]*Ocean Energy Institute*Offshore Energy Center*[[Peabody]]*Petrohawk Energy Corporation*Sasol*[[Shell Oil]]*Smith Brothers Oil*Society for Mining, biosketchMetallurgy & Exploration*StatoilHydro*Tampa Tanks, accessed December 19, 2011</ref>Inc.*Texas Alliance of Energy Producers*Trans Pacific Oil Corporation*U.S. Oil & Gas Association