Swordsmyth
07-07-2017, 05:54 PM
Is Russia illegally funding U.S. environmental groups? Two congressmen seek investigation
House Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith thinks that the Russian government is funding environmental groups in return for their activities to hinder U.S. oil and gas production.
A six-page letter (https://science.house.gov/news/press-releases/sst-committee-probes-russian-attempts-influence-us-energy-market) sent by Smith and another Republican lawmaker on June 29, asks Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to launch an investigation into "what appears to be a concerted effort by foreign entities to funnel millions of dollars through various non-profit entities to influence the U.S. energy market." The letter was revealed in a Friday press release from the Science Committee.
The Russians' goal, Smith and Rep. Randy Weber of Texas wrote, is to prop up their domestic oil and gas industry by stymying the hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, for oil and gas resources in the U.S.
The natural gas boom in the U.S. has driven prices down and diminished Russia's role in the global energy market. The Trump administration is moving quickly to shelve regulations on oil and gas producers that could interfere with their efforts to take advantage of natural resources, regardless of the environmental and public health consequences.
.@LamarSmithTX21 (https://twitter.com/LamarSmithTX21), @TXRandy14 (https://twitter.com/TXRandy14) sent @USTreasury (https://twitter.com/USTreasury) a letter re Russian attempts to influence US energy market. READ HERE: https://t.co/vaFna8zzDb pic.twitter.com/Sn03z8O2Uk (https://t.co/Sn03z8O2Uk)
— Sci,Space,&Tech Cmte (@HouseScience) July 7, 2017 (https://twitter.com/HouseScience/status/883402296335282176)
The administration is also moving to increase U.S. oil and gas exports, which would compete with Russian exports to Europe in particular.
The letter alleges that the Russian government has been funneling money through Bermuda-based shell companies to environmental groups. Those groups are are fighting for restrictions to oil and gas exploration activities.
The letter cites news reports in conservative publications, including this story in the Washington Free Beacon (http://freebeacon.com/issues/foreign-firm-funding-u-s-green-groups-tied-to-state-owned-russian-oil-company/), and claims from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's emails released by Wikileaks, among other sources, as evidence of Russia's interest in bankrolling environmental groups in the U.S.
More at: http://mashable.com/2017/07/07/lamar-smith-wants-investigation-russia-fracking/#DEbBkr1nOGqQ
House Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith thinks that the Russian government is funding environmental groups in return for their activities to hinder U.S. oil and gas production.
A six-page letter (https://science.house.gov/news/press-releases/sst-committee-probes-russian-attempts-influence-us-energy-market) sent by Smith and another Republican lawmaker on June 29, asks Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to launch an investigation into "what appears to be a concerted effort by foreign entities to funnel millions of dollars through various non-profit entities to influence the U.S. energy market." The letter was revealed in a Friday press release from the Science Committee.
The Russians' goal, Smith and Rep. Randy Weber of Texas wrote, is to prop up their domestic oil and gas industry by stymying the hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, for oil and gas resources in the U.S.
The natural gas boom in the U.S. has driven prices down and diminished Russia's role in the global energy market. The Trump administration is moving quickly to shelve regulations on oil and gas producers that could interfere with their efforts to take advantage of natural resources, regardless of the environmental and public health consequences.
.@LamarSmithTX21 (https://twitter.com/LamarSmithTX21), @TXRandy14 (https://twitter.com/TXRandy14) sent @USTreasury (https://twitter.com/USTreasury) a letter re Russian attempts to influence US energy market. READ HERE: https://t.co/vaFna8zzDb pic.twitter.com/Sn03z8O2Uk (https://t.co/Sn03z8O2Uk)
— Sci,Space,&Tech Cmte (@HouseScience) July 7, 2017 (https://twitter.com/HouseScience/status/883402296335282176)
The administration is also moving to increase U.S. oil and gas exports, which would compete with Russian exports to Europe in particular.
The letter alleges that the Russian government has been funneling money through Bermuda-based shell companies to environmental groups. Those groups are are fighting for restrictions to oil and gas exploration activities.
The letter cites news reports in conservative publications, including this story in the Washington Free Beacon (http://freebeacon.com/issues/foreign-firm-funding-u-s-green-groups-tied-to-state-owned-russian-oil-company/), and claims from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's emails released by Wikileaks, among other sources, as evidence of Russia's interest in bankrolling environmental groups in the U.S.
More at: http://mashable.com/2017/07/07/lamar-smith-wants-investigation-russia-fracking/#DEbBkr1nOGqQ