Big Oil’s record-breaking lobbying spending is delaying climate action in California (again). Oil and gas corporations operating in California spent more than $9 million to influence the state legislature in the first three months of 2025 alone. Chevron and the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), the top lobbying spenders from 2024, each spent more than $3 million in Q1 on lobbying, totaling more than $7 million between them. The oil industry spent a record total of $38 million in lobbying expenses in California in 2024.
The industry used its profits to fight one of The Climate Center’s priority bills, the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act, which would force fossil fuel corporations to pay for the climate damage they cause to our communities. Ten oil companies, including Chevron, Marathon, ExxonMobil, Shell, and PBF Energy, lobbied against the bill.
Corporate polluters are also lobbying to influence California’s Cap and Trade Program, which is up for reauthorization this year. A large coalition of environmental organizations, including The Climate Center, is urging lawmakers to stop giving oil and gas corporations $1 billion annually in free pollution credits. Big Oil is pushing hard against those reforms.
On the national stage, Trump and his allies in Congress are making no secret of their allegiance to corporate polluters. Congress recently voted to add $3 trillion to the national debt, eviscerate clean energy tax credits, and illegally end California’s clean air rules.
It’s time for California lawmakers to fight back. They must support the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act and Cap and Trade reforms to divert billions of dollars away from polluters that fund climate obstruction and misleading lobbying.
If you haven’t already, urge California lawmakers to pass the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act and end polluter giveaways in California’s Cap and Trade Program.
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