The Senate’s turn to investigate Big Oil?

For the future of congressional probes into Big Oil’s climate deception, keep an eye on Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.

Emily Sanders is editorial lead for the Center for Climate Integrity. You can catch up with her on Twitter here.

---

Graphic design by Tess Abbot

Through a historic, year-long investigation into Big Oil companies, House Democrats uncovered new evidence that the fossil fuel industry is misleading the public about its role in the climate crisis — but their work was stymied when Republicans regained control of the House. 

Senate Democrats can now take up the fight against climate disinformation — and one of the most outspoken climate advocates in Congress has signaled he’s ready to lead the charge.

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

Second only to hydrocarbons, the biggest product of the fossil fuel industry is lies.

washingtonpost.comBig Oil talks ‘transition’ but perpetuates petroleum, House documents saySome oil companies remain internally skeptical about the switch to a low-carbon economy, even as they portray their businesses as partners in the cause, documents say.

As the new chair of the Senate Budget Committee, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island told E&E News that he could use his new position to pick up where his colleagues in the House left off. 

An impassioned critic of the fossil fuel industry, Whitehouse has spent years working to expose Big Oil’s dark money spending against climate action. He has called for civil RICO charges to be filed against fossil fuel companies for their conspiracies to deceive the public on climate, like they were against Big Tobacco. He’s also sponsoring a bill in the Senate for a windfall profits tax on Big Oil. 

Now, Whitehouse says he wants to take the former House investigation of climate disinformation to the next level. “We are interested in trying to make sure their work is not lost and that the tasks that are left undone can still be pursued,” he told E&E in an interview. If that wasn’t enough of a hint, Whitehouse has hired staff members who worked for the House Oversight Committee to continue working on corporate oversight for the Senate Budget Committee.

Aria Kovalovich @ariakov

A bit of ~personal news, as the kids say:📣 I’m excited to share that today, I started a new job as Researcher for @SenateBudget, under Chairman @SenWhitehouse, where I'll be focusing on corporate oversight and accountability.⬇️ eenews.net/articles/senat…

eenews.netSenate Democrats look for staffers to probe fossil fuelsThe Senate Budget Committee, to be led by climate hawk Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, is looking to hire a host of aides to focus on climate issues.

A continued investigation could be an opportunity to obtain the internal documents that oil companies failed to produce (or completely redacted) last time around, in defiance of their subpoenas. 

Abbey Dufoe @abbeydufoe

.@OversightDems: hey exxon, you MUST disclose all climate documents to us ASAP as part of our investigation exxon: ok bet

As the House investigation revealed, fossil fuel companies and their trade associations are still lying about their commitments to climate solutions while internally doubling down on production and investments in oil and gas. After announcing record annual profits in January, many oil majors have since walked back their clean energy pledges — proving once again the importance of the continuing quest to hold them accountable.

Whitehouse has already begun using his new power on the Budget Committee to highlight the massive costs of climate damages.

On Wednesday, Whitehouse held the second in a series of hearings exploring the mounting financial toll of climate change — this time focusing on the cost of flooding in coastal communities.

Senate Budget Committee @SenateBudget

Flooding caused by sea level rise puts our nation’s coastal families and critical infrastructure at risk. ⏰We’re holding a hearing this Wednesday @ 10 am to address this looming issue ⏰ #RisingSeasRisingCosts

One of the witnesses to testify at the hearing was Matthew Eby, the founder and CEO of the nonprofit First Street Foundation. A study released by the group just this week found that nearly 30 million Americans’ homes and lives are now at risk from hurricane-force winds — a threat that is unevenly concentrated in communities of color. 

Senate Budget Committee @SenateBudget

“There's definitely a difference between surviving and living.” Warren, Rhode Island’s Town Manager @kateplanning describes the enormous economic costs that rising sea levels are bringing to her community. We must act NOW to mitigate the worst damages of the #ClimateCrisis.

Damages like these are just a fraction of the financial burden that communities now face as a result of Big Oil’s campaigns to deceive the public and delay action. More than two dozen lawsuits now seek to recover those costs from the companies that caused them.

In a separate hearing on Wednesday, Whitehouse pressed Attorney General Merrick Garland on whether the Department of Justice was considering similar legal efforts.

Center for Climate Integrity @climatecosts

.@SenWhitehouse asks Attorney General Garland if DOJ is exploring climate lawsuits, citing Rhode Island's case against fossil fuel companies. Garland: "I can assure you that the Environment and Natural Resources Division has taken a very close look at this question." 👀

We’ll be closely following all these developments — in the Senate, Justice Department, and beyond. 

---

---

ICYMI News Roundup

• As Oil Companies Stay Lean, Workers Move to Renewable Energy

• How broadcast TV networks covered climate change in 2022

• BP CEO Says More Oil and Gas Investment Is Good for the Climate Fight

• Fossil fuel companies donated $700m to US universities over 10 years