MN Chamber of Commerce captured by Koch Industries

Minnesota’s premier business association, the 2,300 member Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, spends nearly two and a half million dollars annually, to lobby Minnesota Legislators and decision makers, according to The Power Behind Climate Denial in Minnesota, a report issued recently by MN350 and other Minnesota environmental organizations. Much of that money, which comes from its large and small members aross Minnesota, is directed toward fostering climate science denial and opposing even modest, and previously bipartisan, proposals to protect the climate and the environment. For example, in 2020 more than twenty-five groups representing utilities, energy companies, unions, major corporations, scientists, and environmental activists testified in the Minnesota House of Representatives in favor of the ECO Act. Only lobbyists for the Chamber of Commere and the Minnesota Propane Association opposed it. The irony of the testimony from the Chamber of Commerce lobbyists was that it was in opposition to it paying members who testified for the legislation. The ECO Act sought to reward residential energy customers who switched to more efficient heating systems that relied on electricity rather than propane. The Act, which was introduced by Republican Senator Jason Rarick, from Pine City, would have created jobs for local contractors, released utility companies from minimum spending requirements, prioritized benefits for low income home owners, and expanded consumer choice by rewarding them for switching to more efficient heating systems, according to MN350’s report. The Propane Association’s opposition to the legislation is easy to understand. They want people to use more propane. The reasoning behind the opposition of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is less transparent. However, MN350’s report makes a strong case for the claim that one Chamber member, the Pine Bend Refinery own by Koch Industries, has essentially captured the Chamber of Commerce when it comes to policy regarding bills such as the ECO Act, or other legislation regarding energy efficiency and the reduction of fossil fuel use. This is the case, the report argues, even though many of the other large members of the Chamber have expressly stated their support for increased energy efficiency, reduced petroleum use, and a greener economy. The report points out that Koch Industries lobbyist, Matthew Lemke, is on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Chamber of Commere and that time-and-again Chamber lobbyists statements have mirrored the Koch-Pine Bend position rather than that of companies such as 3M or Target. The report gives another example, in addition to the ECO Act. “Clean Energy First required Minnesota’s utilities to prioritize clean energy when making new investments,” the report’s authors write. “The bill passed the House in 2019 but when Chamber lobbyist Lauryn Schothorst spoke in opposition to the Senate version, introduced by Republican Senator David Senjum, the bill ended up allowing dirty fuels to be called clean fuels.” Allowing dirty fuels to be called clean fuels aligns with Pine Bend Refinery’s position but is in opposition to the stated and written policies of many other hamber of Commerce members. And again, In 2019, the Chamber opposed a renewed Renewable Energy Standard which was originally supported by 97% of the Legislature as well as Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty, in 2007. The Chambers repeated falling into line with the fossil fuel industry flies in the face of the stated goal of many of its members. Target, for example, states on its web site that: “Target acknowledges the scientific consensus that the climate is changing, that our business is contributing to that change, and that our supply chain, operations, and customers will continue to be impacted by the effects of climate change. We are committed to reducing our greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint, and to engaging constructively with industry peers, value chain partners, external stakeholders, and policymakers to help accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Target also supports the Paris Agreement and national, regional, and local policy solutions to reduce emissions and build resilience to climate change.” Sounds good! But there is no evidence, however, that Target, or any other member of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce has “engaged with its industry peers” to challenge the Chamber to support “regional, and local policy solutions to reduce emissions and build resilience to climate change.” The Power Behind Climate Denial in Minnesota is a call to Target, and other Chamber of Commerce member, to prove their claims about reducing GHG emissions aren’t mere greenwashing. They, and their business association, must be held acountable for their climate claims in the upcoming legislative session. If you know a member of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, or if you work for a member, please urge them to support climate friendly policies and and legislation. The MN350 report can be found at https://mn350action.org/badforbusiness/report/ Tim Minnesota Political