Illustration: Tiffany Herring/Axios
Energy industry lobbying spending declined in the second quarter of the year, federal disclosures show, with Congress dithering as it entered election season.
Why it matters: There's still intense behind-the-scenes interest in hydrogen tax credits, permitting legislation and, increasingly, AI's power suck.
Driving the news: The priorities remain largely the same for industry, with environmental permitting and the 45V hydrogen tax credit showing up frequently in Q2 disclosures.
- But overall spending was down for many companies and trade groups.
Zoom in: The Edison Electric Institute reported spending $2.2 million, roughly half what it spent in Q1, lobbying on approps, hydrogen, permitting and regs.
- Exxon Mobil spent $1.5 million, down from nearly $2.2 million in the first quarter, with notes in its disclosure on permitting, trade, IRA implementation and other issues.
- The American Clean Power Association reported $630,000 in lobbying spending, an increase of more than $200,000 over Q1 and its highest total since 2017, when it was known as the American Wind Energy Association.
Fun fact: Exxon also recently tapped several former Democratic staffers to lobby, including Eulice Brandon Garrett, a former policy staffer for the Congressional Black Caucus and then-Vice President Joe Biden.
By the numbers: Here are the toplines from other notable players across industry:
- American Petroleum Institute: $1.7 million in Q2, compared with $1.8 million in Q1
- Solar Energy Industries Association: $460,000 in Q2, down from $480,000 in Q1
- Nuclear Energy Institute: $480,000 in Q2, up from $390,000 in Q1
- American Chemistry Council: $4.8 million in Q2, compared with $4.9 million in Q1
- Shell USA: $2.1 million in Q2, up from 1.6 million in Q1
- Chevron: $2.1 million in Q2, compared with $1.8 million in Q1.
- ConocoPhillips: $710,000 in Q2, down from $3.2 million in Q1
- Southern Company: $2.4 million in Q2, compared with $3.3 million in Q1
- Constellation: $1 million in Q2, down from $1.5 million in Q1.
- Duke Energy: $1.3 million in Q2, compared with $2.3 in Q1.
Yes, but: These disclosures don't always show exactly what's going on, since companies don't disclose what they're saying about a given issue.
- The quarterly topline spend sometimes reflects how an organization handles its accounting for the year, or what's going on in Congress and the relevant agencies.
Between the lines: Still, they do show fossil fuel companies lobbying on Congressional Review Act resolutions to overturn Biden administration rules.
- The American Petroleum Institute lobbied in the second quarter on CRAs to nix EPA's NAAQS, power plant greenhouse gas and vehicle emissions regulations.
- Another topic getting more attention each quarter from utilities: AI and data centers.
- EEI reported lobbying on "artificial intelligence issues" and "load growth and resource adequacy," while Constellation was talking about "data center policy" and "electrification/demand growth policy."
Our thought bubble: The end of this year might see a fury of lobbying on permitting, with Sens. Joe Manchin and John Barrasso likely looking to move their freshly unveiled bill during lame duck.
