Oil & Gas Lobbying

Of the many lobbying organizations in this country, the oil lobby is most certainty one of the most influential. As oil is one of the main sources of energy in America, and across the world, the corporations that drill oil have considerable influence with nations and governments. Each year, lobbyists for different oil companies spend millions in capital cities, from London to Washington DC, promoting the interests of the company they represent. Because of such lobbying, laws and legislation can be passed by federal and state governments that are "favorable" to the industry. Oil companies have the most influence in states where oil drilling makes up a large percentage of that nation's economy. In Texas, about 37,204 new oil wells were constructed in 2009 alone. In states such as Texas, the state's majority party, the Republican party, is pressured by lobbyist to voice their interests in Washington. A common stereotype is that the Republican Party is mainly influenced by the industry, since many come from oil-drilling states, though in reality, this is true for both Democrats and Republicans. In the event of oil spills, the companies responsible will lobby hard to convince the government and citizens that it is a reliable corporation. The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the damage control campaign launched by BP is the most recent example of this.

 An emerging lobbying arm in Washington is the drilling of natural gases in the United States. The use of natural gas has come recently amidst widespread concerns that the country is becoming too dependent on foreign oil. Natural gas seems to many to be an appealing replacement from oil. However, the natural gas industry has also gathered immense influence and power in the lobbying world of Washington. More and more natural gas companies employ lobbying firms to promote themselves in federal and state governments. As viewed in the documentary Gasland, natural gas drilling sites number by the thousands across the nation. Drilling of natural gas also has hazardous risks, with the likelihood of pollution if released into the atmosphere. Though it is similar to the oil industry in that regard, the public at large, because of the industry's promotion as being more "green" friendly, views the natural gas industry more positively than oil.

Sources include:

http://www.allbusiness.com/government/elections-politics-politics-political-parties/15195985-1.html

http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/84123-natural-gas-lobby-steps-up-to-challenge-coal

http://money.cnn.com/2008/08/19/news/economy/oil_money/

http://greenanswers.com/q/182523/energy-fuels/fossil-fuels/oil-petroleum/what-state-has-most-new-oil-wells-drilled-every-yea