When Asked to Stop Lobbyist Efforts Against Electric Vehicles, Big Oil Stays Silent

By Alex J. Rouhandeh On 10/28/21 at 5:06 PM EDT

The CEOs of BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Shell appeared before the Committee on Oversight and Reform on Thursday to answer questions about their alleged part in the spread of disinformation about the role of fossil fuels in global warming.

Also in attendance was the president of the American Petroleum Institute (API), a nonprofit lobbying entity for the oil industry that an Exxon lobbyist recently referred to as one of the industry's "whipping boys."

Over the years, a number of reports have outlined the API's role in pressing for anti-green measures on behalf of America's major fossil fuel polluters in order for those companies to save face. One of the API's recent efforts includes a campaign against electric vehicles.

During his questioning of the four CEOs, California Congressman Ro Khanna pressed Shell President Gretchen Watkins on whether she would agree to tell API President Mike Sommers to cease his agency's campaign against electric vehicles. Watkins stopped short of making that declaration, saying, "There are several places where we are not fully aligned with the API."

Elon Musk EV — Tesla founder Elon Musk stands as one of the people with the most to gain from a proliferation of electric vehicles. Here, he addresses members of the media during a press conference announcing new developments of the Crew Dragon reusable spacecraft, at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, on October 10, 2019. Photo by PHILIP PACHECO/AFP via Getty Images

The CEOs of BP, Exxon, and Chevron also declined to outright ask the API to pull its campaign funding. Khanna asked them if they would leave the API if it continued its lobbying against electric vehicles. They all remained silent.

"Here's what's so frustrating, because I really don't think you're as bad as the CEOs of the past. I don't I think you have [had] tough jobs since you got there. You got a horrible record on stuff," Khanna said. "I don't believe you purposely want to be out there spreading climate disinformation, but you're funding these groups."

The API boasts revenue of over $238 million, according to its most recent tax filing. The Guardian reported in July that Shell gave the agency $10 million, noting that BP, Chevron and Exxon were also major contributors, despite their contribution sums remaining private.