Posted on 11/06/2015 9:05:16 AM PST by reaganaut1
HOUSTON -- The opening of an investigation of Exxon Mobil by the New York attorney general's office into the company's record on climate change may well spur legal inquiries into other oil companies, according to legal and climate experts, although successful prosecutions are far from assured.
Many oil companies have funded lobbying efforts and research on climate change, so prosecutors would most likely be able to search through vast amounts of material. The industry has also resisted pressure for years from environmental groups to warn investors of the risks that stricter limits on carbon emissions could have on their businesses, although that appears to be changing.
"Exxon Mobil is not alone," said Stephen Zamora, a professor at the University of Houston Law Center. "This is not likely to be an isolated matter."
Energy experts said prosecutors may decide to investigate companies that chose to fund or join organizations that questioned climate science or policies designed to address the problem, such as the Global Climate Coalition and the American Legislative Exchange Council, to see if discrepancies exist between the companies' public and private statements.
British Petroleum (now BP), Shell Oil, Texaco (now part of Chevron) and Exxon, along with several manufacturing companies, were all members of the coalition, a group of companies and trade associations that started an advertising campaign in the 1990s opposing Washington’s involvement in strong international efforts like the Kyoto Protocol initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Energy experts said internal documents from member companies about climate change could contradict what the companies said as part of the coalition, which disbanded in 2002.
"There was a concerted effort by multiple American oil companies to obscure the emerging climate science consensus throughout the 1990s," said Paul Bledsoe, a former White House aide to President Bill Clinton on climate issues.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
This certainly has crossed the line. When the government starts pursuing dissent based on difference of opinion we have lost our republic.
Wouldn’t this case call for NY’s AG to prove global warming exists?
Perhaps while the AG is at it, he can prove the Bermuda Triangle, the Easter Bunny, and that Elvis is alive and well living on Mars.
All of this is a shakedown by Hillary because it takes a lot of money to buy the Presidency, and she doesn’t want to spend her own money.
I hope they don’t roll over, and instead, vigorously fight back.
Oh oh, the lefty bank accounts and slush funds are a little low this time of year so I guess we know who’s gonna get “shaken down” to “replenish” their depleted stocks.
Reads like Atlas Shrugged
Yes, how dare these companies defend themselves.
The turds at the NYT are hyperventilating over the potential of bringing the energy industry to its’ knees and having the govmt take it over.
Now it’s obvious why large corporations donate to Democrats. Extortion.
Ten cents per gallon ought to cover the legal fees.
When government came for natural resource harvesters we have lost our republic ... 1974. The rest is just the last of the steam going out of the engine.
Those shiny new gas fired power plants won't run your space heaters. Maybe you can burn the furniture to keep warm, even if chrome and glass don't poot out many BTUs.
It's about time to burn the books anyway.
The witch hunt continues~!
“There was a concerted effort by multiple American oil companies to obscure the emerging climate science consensus throughout the 1990s,” said Paul Bledsoe...
Differing opinions will NOT be tolerated.
The energy industry is composed of people... people who don't much cotton to this extortionist crap based on junk science.
People who just might say "Eff Yew!" and go Galt.
We aren't slaves, even if we have worked like that or harder.
Involuntary servitude isn't happening, and one moron turning the wrong valve will make a real wreck of things.
The government funds fake science with our tax dollars.
The oil companies fund real science with their dollars.
The government is punishing dissenters. If this doesn’t stop soon, we will have a new revolution.
EVERY Oil Co in America should should be involved as a Group in this Investigation, and then to make sure there is no conflict of interest, immediately HALT ALL SALES to ANY Government Entity in the US.
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