Utility front groups spending on disinformation advertising – Energy And Policy Institute

The nonprofit Energy and Policy Institute has launched a new tracking tool exposing up to $2.4 million in spending on advertising by 14 utility front groups over the past four years on social media advertisements, many of which include targeted messaging to mislead customers on critical climate and energy concerns, including the impact of power plant retirements, the reasons behind high utility bills, and the viability of “renewable natural gas” and hydrogen.

Using data from the Meta Ad Library and existing code developed by Brown University, the Energy and Policy Institute’s tracking tool shows the specific regions that the gas and electric utility groups are targeting with the advertisements.

Utility front groups are organizations that appear independent but are established, controlled, or funded by a gas or electric utility or trade association. These front groups advocate on behalf of utility interests, often by amplifying misinformation about distributed renewable energy or electrification while masking or obscuring the utility’s involvement.

Just over the last year, gas and electric utility front groups spent tens of thousands of dollars spreading misinformation through targeted advertising on the platforms of the social media giant Meta, such as Facebook and Instagram. In some cases, the front groups have promoted specific candidates over others to influence voters in the weeks before primary elections. 

Read the full report at the Energy And Policy Institute.