The wind energy industry is a major contributor to political campaigns and causes, donating millions of dollars every year. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the industry gave $5.8 million to federal candidates and parties in the 2016 election cycle, and $14.4 million in total to federal candidates and parties since 1990. The industry has also been a major player in lobbying, spending $27.4 million on lobbying in 2016 alone.
The wind energy industry’s political giving is aimed at supporting candidates and causes that favor policies that would help the industry grow. This includes supporting candidates who back renewable energy tax credits and subsidies, as well as those who oppose measures that would make it harder for the industry to build new wind farms.
The industry’s political giving has been largely successful in advancing its agenda. In the past decade, the wind energy industry has seen dramatic growth, thanks in part to billions of dollars in federal tax credits and subsidies. The industry has also been able to block or weaken measures that would have made it harder to build new wind farms.
However, the industry’s political giving has not been without controversy. Some critics have accused the industry of trying to buy influence, and say that its political giving gives it an unfair advantage over other energy sources.
Other related questions:
Q: Does the government pay for renewable energy?
A: The answer depends on the government in question. Some governments do provide subsidies or other forms of financial support for renewable energy projects, while others do not. It is also worth noting that government support for renewable energy is sometimes controversial, with some critics arguing that it is wasteful or counterproductive.
Q: Who spends the most on renewable energy?
A: The United States spends the most on renewable energy.
Q: How much money do Oil companies spend on Lobbying?
A: There is no definitive answer to this question, as the amount of money spent on lobbying by oil companies can vary greatly from year to year. However, according to a report from the Center for Responsive Politics, the top five oil and gas companies in the United States (ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Marathon Petroleum, and Koch Industries) spent a combined total of $22.5 million on lobbying in 2017.
Bibliography
- Alternative Energy Production & Services – OpenSecrets
- Clean energy sector swings Republican with U.S. … – Reuters
- Fossil fuel political giving outdistances renewables 13 to one
- Most Americans support expanding solar and wind energy …
- 13 Towards a Political Economy Framework for Wind Power
- Texas politicians got cash boost from energy industry after …
- How Much the Oil and Gas Industry Paid Texas Republicans …