Mike Sommers
Mike Sommers Credentials Background Mike Sommers has been the president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute (API) since May 2018, taking over from Jack Gerard. Before API, Sommers was president and CEO of the American Investment Council (AIC), previously known as the Private Equity Growth Capital Council (PEGCC), which he led since February 2016.1“Oil […]
Tony Abbott
Tony Abbott Credentials Background Tony Abbott was Prime Minister of Australia between 2013 and 2015, having led the centre-right Liberal Party in opposition since 2009. He was ousted as Liberal Party leader by Malcolm Turnbull in September 2015 following poor approval ratings. 2“Australian PM Tony […]
Gordon Fulks
Gordon J. Fulks Credentials Background Fulks is a policy advisor to the Heartland Institute, a controversial think tank that rejects the 97% consensus on climate change. According to his bio on the Heartland web site, Fulks received a BS, MS and Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Chicago in the 1960s and 1970s.1“Gordon J. […]
Association of American Railroads
Association of American Railroads (AAR) Background The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is a 501(c)(6) trade organization that represents major freight railroad companies in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In addition to providing industry data, research, and standards setting, AAR lobbies in Washington, D.C. for “sound public policy that supports the interests of the freight […]
Beacon Center of Tennessee
The Beacon Center of Tennessee Background The Beacon Center of Tennessee (BCT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that describes itself as “providing expert empirical research and timely free market solutions to public policy issues in Tennessee.” The Center was originally founded as the Tennessee Center for Policy […]
Drew Johnson
Drew Johnson Credentials Background Jason A. (Drew) Johnson is the founder of the Beacon Center of Tennessee, formerly the Tennessee Center for Public Policy Research. He served as president of TCPPR, until leaving in 2009. He remained a member of TCPPR’s board of directors. He was last mentioned on the group’s 2009 990 tax forms.1“Drew […]
Mike McKenna
Mike McKenna Credentials Background Michael (Mike) McKenna is a former energy lobbyist and communications specialist currently serving as a deputy assistant to the President of the United States. 2Kelsey Brugger. “Energy lobbyist Mike McKenna to take White House job,” E&E News, October 25, 2019. Archived November […]
The Empowerment Alliance
The Empowerment Alliance Background The Empowerment Alliance (TEA) is an anonymously funded 501(c)(4) nonprofit that launched on September 30, 2019 with the goal of fighting liberal policies, specifically the Green New Deal, and promoting natural gas.1 Timothy Cama. “Group launches to protect gas, fight Green New Deal,” E&E News, September 30, 2019. Archived .pdf on […]
Energy In Depth
Energy In Depth Background Energy In Depth (EID) is a program jointly launched by the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) and the “independent global business advisory firm” FTI Consulting to promote and defend unconventional gas development (fracking). In a October 2014 “Technical Paper,” FTI Consulting outlined how it teamed with the IPAA in 2009 […]
FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting Background FTI Consulting (NYSE: FCN) describes itself as “an independent global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations manage change, mitigate risk and resolve disputes: financial, legal, operational, political & regulatory, reputational and transactional.” FTI offers services for a wide range of industries. For example, its energy industry […]