FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2021
CONTACT
Brandon Dawson, (830) 309-1092
May Update to Tracking the Dirty Dollars Project Find Few Legislators Received Fossil Fuel Money
SACRAMENTO—Only six California legislators received donations from the fossil fuel industry and its allies in the first reporting period of 2021, according to Sierra Club California’s May update to their Tracking the Dirty Dollars project.
The small number of political donations from polluters is unsurprising in the first quarter of a non-election year. Nevertheless, climate and environmental advocates remain hopeful that the trend will continue, as the political consequences of accepting fossil fuel donations become more clear. Recent polling from FM3 found that by a 39-point margin, California voters say they are less likely to vote for a state legislator who accepts campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies.
“California voters want leaders who will stand up to polluters and embrace the clean energy solutions that are essential to addressing the climate crisis. In this critical moment, when the health and future prosperity of millions of Californians hangs in the balance, we will not accept leadership from those who are beholden to polluters,” said Brandon Dawson, acting director of the Sierra Club California.
The report found that just weeks before the release of a proposed statewide building code update that fell short of demands from climate and environmental groups, California Governor Gavin Newsom received more than $30,000 from the California Building Industry Association (CBIA). CBIA worked in partnership with the gas industry to oppose the transition off fossil fuels in homes, despite the climate and air quality benefits.
Senator Sydney Kamlager and Assemblymember Akilah Weber—two California legislators who were elected in special elections earlier this year—also received donations of under $8,000 from fossil fuel interests, according to the report. Fortunately, we know based on their records that these leaders are strong advocates for California’s environment and public health and will not be swayed by donations from polluting industries.
The Sierra Club California launched the Tracking the Dirty Dollars project in November of 2020 to increase voter awareness around fossil fuel political contributions to state legislators and other state-level elected officials. The project compiles information from existing databases to identify direct campaign contributions, contributions through independent expenditure campaigns, and gifts.
The first installment of the project focused on 28 Democratic legislators who usually have difficulty voting for bills that would reduce dependence on or pollution from oil and gas activities. The February 2021 installment added in all legislative Republicans and the members of each house newly elected in November. This May installment adds in the rest of the Democratic legislators.
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Sierra Club California is the legislative and regulatory advocacy arm of the 13 Sierra Club chapters in California, representing more than 500,000 members and supporters statewide.