- The Energy and Policy Institute launched a new tracking tool that exposes up to $2.4 million in spending on advertising by 14 utility front groups in the last year.
- Utilities stall and limit climate action by establishing, controlling and funding front groups to spread climate misinformation through advertising on social media.
- Utility front groups have spent thousands of dollars on disinformation advertising that target people of color and historically marginalized groups, mislead the public on the impacts of gas bans, highlight false concerns regarding the reliability of renewable energy, and promote “renewable natural gas” and hydrogen, despite multiple studies showing these fuels are not viable substitutes for building electrification.
- Utility front groups advertise for preferred candidates in elections, including Seniors Across America promoting Governor Ron DeSantis, followed by a slew of anti-solar advertisements costing up to $60,000.
- Federal commissions, legislators, and utility regulators can take action to improve the transparency of utility advertising and limit the spread of disinformation.
Gas and electric utility front groups have spent over $2.4 million over the past 4 years on social media advertisements, many of which include targeted messaging to mislead customers on critical climate and energy concerns, including the impact of power plant retirements, the reasons behind high utility bills, and the viability of “renewable natural gas” and hydrogen....
Read Full Story:
https://www.energyandpolicy.org/utility-front-groups-spending-on-disinformati...