House Committee Witnesses Fueled by Big Oil Cash

MAGA extremists call on industry-funded operatives to confirm their commitment to dirty fossil fuels 

WASHINGTON, DC — Witnesses testifying at a House Committee on Natural Resources Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee legislative hearing today have personally gained from booming fossil energy company profits according to research released by Accountable.US today. 

“Far from independent experts, some of these witnesses have come to their jobs through a fossil fuel-funded revolving door with the MAGA extremists who have taken over Congress. Their claims today should be viewed through the lens of the money that paved their way,” added Marshall.  

Here are some of the key takeaways from the research, which can be downloaded at this link. 

Tim Tarpley Works ForThe Major, Profitable Oilfield Services Corporations Like Halliburton Whose Water He Carried As A Congressional Staffer. 

Tim Tarpley Spent Years As A Congressional Staffer Advocating For Oil Industry Priorities Like The Keystone Pipeline And Exporting American Oil And Gas. “Prior to joining the Energy Workforce & Technology Council, he served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) and began his legislative career as an aide to former Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-TX). As a lynchpin of Congressman Poe’s staff for more than nine years, Tarpley worked on permitting the Keystone pipeline, ending the crude oil export ban and streamlining the permitting for LNG export approval.” [Energy Dialogues, accessed 09/26/23]

• The Energy Workforce & Technology Council Is An Oil Industry Association. [Energy Workforce & Technology Council, accessed 09/26/23]
• Halliburton Is A Member Of The Energy Workforce And Technology Council. [Energy Workforce & Technology Council, accessed 09/26/23]

Greg Upton Works For An Oil-Industry Funded University Research Center.

Greg Upton Is A Research Professor And Interim Executive Director At Louisiana State University’s Center For Energy Studies. “Dr. Greg Upton is Associate Research Professor at the Louisiana State University Center for Energy Studies. As of January 2023, he is interim executive director of the Center. His research interests are related to the analysis of economic, environmental and public policy issues in the energy industry.” [LSU, accessed 09/26/23]

• The Oil And Gas Industry “Dominates The School’s Center for Energy Studies.” “The oil and gas industry also donates heavily to Louisiana State University, and dominates the school’s Center for Energy Studies, which has consistently produced research that promotes industrial interests.” [Public Accountability Initiative, 01/11/18]
  

LSU’s Center For Energy Studies Lists Projects Funded By Shell, Entergy, TransCanada, Enable Midstream Partners, And The Oil Industry Lobbying Group The American Energy Alliance. LSU’s Center for Energy Studies maintains a list of externally funded projects. It lists a variety of oil companies, including Shell, Entergy, Transcanada, Enable Midstream Partners, and the lobbying group Am [LSU’s Center for Energy Studies, accessed 09/26/23]

Chett Chiasson Manages A Port That Serves Oil Industry, Funded By Tenants Like BP, Chevron, And Shell. 

Chett Chiasson Says That His Port’s Tenants Provide Services To More Than 90 Percent Of All Deepwater Rigs In The Gulf Of The Nation’s Oil Supply. “Port Fourchon is located on the Gulf of Mexico near the mouth of Bayou Lafourche and is the only Louisiana port directly on the Gulf of Mexico. Although 675 million barrels of domestically produced and imported crude oil per year are transported via pipelines through or near the Port, Port Fourchon does not itself handle any bulk oil and gas per se. Rather, we are an intermodal offshore services and supply port. More than 250 companies utilize Port Fourchon in servicing offshore rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, carrying equipment, supplies and personnel to offshore locations. In terms of service, Port Fourchon’s tenants provide services to more than 90 percent of all deepwater rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, and roughly 45% of all shallow water rigs in the Gulf. 80% of all Gulf oil now comes from deepwater Gulf of Mexico operations. In total, Port Fourchon plays a key role in providing nearly 20% of the nation’s oil supply – or one in every five barrels of oil in the country.” [Chet Chiasson Senate EPW Testimony, 06/24/21]

By One Measure, 95 Percent Of Port Fourchon’s Business Is Energy Related. “It’s a multiuse coastal port that functions primarily as a land base for multiple offshore energy support service companies. The Gulf of Mexico provides the U.S. with about 18% of its domestic oil supply. More than 95% of tonnage moved within Port Fourchon’s facilities is energy related.”

Port Fourchon’s Tenants Include Major Oil Corporations Like BP, Shell, And Chevron. [Port Fourchon Directory Search, accessed 09/26/2]

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