[Graeme]

Renewable advocates battle oil industry over energy policy

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'B')ig oil and natural gas companies may vastly outspend and outman the renewable fuels industry on Capitol Hill but the general gridlock in Washington gives advocates of wind, ethanol and other new-age sources the upper hand in the growing battle to overhaul the country's energy policy.

"This Congress…seems unable to make a national energy policy," said Bruce Babcock, an Iowa State University economist. "The renewable fuels have an advantage in that they are part of current law, and it's always easier to maintain current law than it is to change it."

Among the factors making a major shift of U.S. energy policy difficult are the upcoming elections, the inability of lawmakers to reach a consensus on how to change it, and the high costs necessary to expand access to fuels such as natural gas for consumers at U.S. filling stations.

That hasn't stopped the oil industry from aggressively wooing Congressional lawmakers on hot-button issues, including lobbying against renewable fuels.
Last year alone ConocoPhillips, Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil, Chevron and the American Petroleum Institute, the trade group that represents these energy giants, used $66.2 million for lobbying efforts, nearly 44% of the $150 million total spent by the oil and gas industry, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. Collectively, nearly 800 lobbyists worked on behalf of oil and gas interests in 2011.

The total towers over the $53 million spent by what the center classifies as the "miscellaneous energy" industry — which counts the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the American Wind Energy Association as its members. The grouping includes 751 lobbyists.

Despite the huge financial disadvantage, renewable fuels groups remain unconvinced that the public relations push by the deep pockets of the fossil fuel industry will be enough to get lawmakers in Washington to act.