Environmental Defense Fund July 1, 2019 The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is yet another example of an eco-group abandoning its historical principles to join the left’s eco-crusade. Formed in 1967 to oppose the use of DDT, which it claimed was hurting birds, the Environmental Defense Fund established itself as a preeminent environmental organization. Since then, however, the EDF seems to concern itself less with the environment and more with wrecking the economy to appease far-left activists. Far-Left Beliefs The EDF’s beliefs mirror the talking points pushed by today’s eco-left activists. Coal The EDF has successfully worked to eliminate well-paying coal jobs. In 2018, it touted its efforts to build a coalition aimed at defeating Ohio legislation that would have assisted coal plants. Coal employs thousands of workers in Ohio and provides 59 percent of the state’s energy. “Beyond Carbon” In 2019, Fred Krupp, president of the EDF, endorsed the efforts of billionaire Michael Bloomberg to eliminate conventional energy jobs in America. Bloomberg has pledged to spend $500 million of his own money on what he calls his “Beyond Carbon” campaign: an effort to end the energy industry as we know it and throw over a million people out of work. Krupp has called this a “bold” plan. Unsurprisingly, EDF has taken millions of dollars from Bloomberg. Opposes Pipelines Pipelines are critical for today’s modern infrastructure. From power plants to home heating, pipelines form the backbone of our energy system. The EDF opposes oil and gas pipeline development and thinks people should “lower their heat” – presumably, its answer to a lack of proper infrastructure. Last winter, New England had to buy fuel from Russia because of a lack of natural gas in the area – an early harbinger of the EDF’s favored policy against pipelines. Helped Design California’s Cap-And-Trade “Slush fund” The EDF helped design California’s much-maligned “cap-and-trade” system – essentially a backdoor carbon tax on California’s working families. Predictably, the cap-and-trade program has now come under attack for potentially becoming a “slush fund” for state lawmakers. Supports Obama-Era Unnecessary Methane Regulations In recent years, thanks to a booming domestic energy economy, the United States is finally on track to become energy independent. That is, unless the EDF gets its way. The EDF opposes developments to make the US energy independent, most notably with its efforts to stop the leasing of public lands in the Permian Basin for oil and gas exploration. The Permian Basin has quickly become the bedrock of America’s energy economy, driving “record” US energy growth and pouring jobs and tax dollars into local communities in states like New Mexico. The EDF has filed a formal protest against the Bureau of Land Management’s plans to lease land in Southern New Mexico for energy extraction, claiming that there are not enough rules related to methane waste. In other words, they want to halt development. In fact, the EDF has made implementing redundant Obama-era methane regulations against fracking its calling card. But it’s little more than an unnecessary impediment to fracking and economic growth – an impediment that costs companies billions. The methane regulations the EDF wants are unnecessary, given that the industry has been making strides for years to cut emissions on its own. From 2011 to 2017, methane emissions dropped in the Permian Basin while oil production was up. The EDF supported the war on oil and gas jobs without hesitation. Top Staff Fred Krupp – President Amanda Leland – Executive Vice President Gwen Ruta – Executive Vice President Mark Brownstein – Senior VP Energy Tom Murray – VP EDF+Business Joe Bonfiglio – VP, Political Affairs Catherine Nardone – Chief Development Officer David Festa – VP West Coast; Senior VP Ecosystems Bill O’Brien – Chief Financial Officer Elizabeth Gore – Senior VP Political Affairs Eric Pooley – Senior VP Strategy & Communications Steven Hamburg – Chief Scientist Eric Schwaab – SVP, Oceans Ryan Hamilton – Chief of Staff Sarah Vogel – VP Health Jessica Isaacs – Chief Administrative Officer Baroness Bryony Worthington – Executive Director, Europe Suzi Kerr – Chief Economist Jianyu Zhang – VP, China Nathaniel Keohane – Senior VP Climate Environmental Defense Fund Back to Blog Posts
