Miranda Green/Floodlight

Polluting Democracy

Private calls and campaign cash: Louisiana regulators’ ties to the utilities they oversee

The state is tied for dead last in renewable energy adoption. Little surprise, with so much fossil fuel money flowing to its commissioners.

Polluting Democracy

Utility regulators take millions from industries they oversee. What could go wrong?

The clean energy transition, for one, a Floodlight analysis of campaign finance data reveals.

Fueling Disinformation

‘Weird’ newspaper shows up in North Dakota mailboxes attacking Dakota Access protests as Greenpeace trial looms

The Koch-linked paper appears in Morton County as residents are set to vote — and to hear the case brought by pipeline owner Energy Transfer

Fueling Disinformation

Fossil fuel interests are working to kill solar in one Ohio county. The hometown newspaper is helping.

A retired gas industry executive, a shadowy 'grassroots' group and a controversial media company are spreading misinformation while turning residents against a proposed solar farm — and each other

Fueling Disinformation

Study: Colleges with fossil fuel funding can become 'vehicle of climate obstruction'

Researchers found donations are part of a strategy by the industry to embed itself in universities to influence research and gain credibility

Carbon Offsets

BP-owned company is selling carbon credits on trees that aren’t in danger, analysis finds

Satellite analysis looked at credits sold by Finite Carbon, which runs some of North America’s largest offsetting projects

Fueling Disinformation

Chevron owns this city’s news site. Many stories aren’t told.

The oil and gas company-owned Richmond Standard tells mostly positive stories about the major industry that dominates this California city and its skyline.

Fueling Disinformation

‘Control the narrative’: How an Alabama utility wields influence by financing news

A Floodlight investigation found Alabama Power runs a news service and its foundation bought a Black newspaper. Neither publishes critical stories about the utility.

Fueling Disinformation

Politicians say this Florida news site lets them buy coverage. Is your state next?

Political strategist Eunic Epstein-Ortiz arrived in Florida from New York in 2017 to help a major labor union turn out voters for the following year. She recalls being pleasantly surprised by the positive coverage the campaign received from Florida Politics.

Fueling Disinformation

An activist group is spreading misinformation to stop solar projects in rural America

Citizens for Responsible Solar is part of a growing backlash against renewable energy in rural communities across the United States.

Power Play

She was an ABC News producer. She also was a corporate operative.

ABC News producer in Florida becomes a corporate operative.

Power Play

In the Southeast, power company money flows to news sites that attack their critics

Power company money flows to media attacking critics in Florida, Alabama.

Power Play

Leaked: US power companies secretly spending millions to protect profits and fight clean energy

Leaked: U.S. power companies secretly spending millions to protect profits and fight clean energy One industry consulting firm has influenced politics across Florida, Alabama and at least six other states.

Power Play

Firm working for FPL took control of news site, let execs influence coverage, records show

Political consulting firm Matrix also considered purchasing or creating other news sites, records show.

Utilities

Why is eco-conscious California spending millions to support natural gas?

A Los Angeles-area air board faces questions over grant spending amid some of the worst air pollution in the US.

Utilities

Winter gas bill from hell: Oklahomans face paying $1.4 billion over snowstorm

Customers saddled with paying 600 times the usual price for energy as regulators are accused of being too close to the industry they monitor.