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Two oil and gas lobby groups bombarded Facebook with hundreds of ads opposing climate legislation in Congress that have been viewed 23 million times.
The American Petroleum Institute and the American Gas Association have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on advertising to attack climate change provisions in the Democrats’ proposed $ 3.5 trillion reconciliation plan, according to a report released today by InfluenceMap, a London-based nonprofit that tracks climate pressure.
Since August 8, the API has spent $ 423,000 on ads that have been viewed 21 million times, according to the analysis. The American Gas Association has spent $ 18,000 since Aug. 11 on similar ads that have been viewed 2.2 million times.
“These industry groups are doing everything – from advertising to public messages – to oppose the reconciliation bill,” said Kendra Haven, head of the US program at InfluenceMap. “This level of strategic activity, especially through targeted advertising campaigns, exposes the value of their positive and leading climate statements.”
The API set a record on August 8 by spending $ 10,800 on Facebook ads in a single day. His previous record of $ 10,300 was set in July 2020 just after Joe Biden announced his campaign climate platform.
The API did not respond to a request for comment.
After Biden announced a $ 2 trillion climate plan last year, API, Exxon Mobil Corp. and other fossil fuel companies and trade groups have launched a $ 10 million advertising blitz on Facebook. The ads have been seen by tens of millions of users in states in the election phase. They sent the message that natural gas was an important part of any climate policy.
In the latest ad campaign, API’s “Energy Citizen” page ran 286 ads urging users to pressure their representatives in Congress to reject the reconciliation bill or to thank them for rejecting. the “energy tax,” InfluenceMap found. The API encouraged Facebook users to call the office of Senator Joe Manchin (DW.Va.) to thank him for opposing the climate provisions. Energy Citizen’s ads have garnered 6 million views, according to InfluenceMap.
The American Gas Association urged viewers to reject the Biden administration’s plan to impose a price on methane emissions.
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