FOX NEWS - Thomas Catenacci - NOV 7, 2022
Biden admin colluding with eco groups while 'ignoring the needs of American families,' former EPA chief of staff tells Fox News Digital
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) leadership has repeatedly consulted left-wing environmental groups tied to a massive liberal dark money network on policy matters, according to internal agency documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan, who President Joe Biden picked to lead the agency in early 2021, has met with leaders of green groups — including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and League of Conservation Voters (LCV) — which have received funding from both the massive Arabella Advisors-managed dark money network and liberal Swiss donor Hansjorg Wyss' funding network, according to emails and calendar entries reviewed by Fox News Digital.
The groups Regan engaged with have aggressively opposed fossil fuel development via litigation and lobbying efforts. Experts have argued that rushing away from fossil fuels to more unreliable forms of energy like wind and solar will lead to higher consumer prices and greater likelihood of blackouts during periods of high electricity demand.
"It's so disappointing to see the Biden administration engaging with these extremist groups that push an unfounded ideology that is all about making fossil fuel energy — that literally runs our entire economy — more expensive and less accessible," Mandy Gunasekara, a Heritage Foundation visiting fellow who served as the EPA's chief of staff during the Trump administration, told Fox News Digital in an interview.
"We have shortages, and we have people behind on utility payments before a single cold front has moved across the United States," Gunasekara said. "The Biden administration regularly colludes with these groups to improve their bottom line while ignoring the needs of American families."
"It is infuriating because we took a completely different approach — we actually improved people's lives, we improved the health of communities."
According to the internal agency documents, Regan met with LCV President Gene Karpinski on at least two occasions. The first meeting, in March 2021, involved two other senior EPA officials, while the second, in October 2021, was a one-on-one phone call.
In April 2021, Regan delivered remarks to an NRDC panel event and, in September, he participated in a one-on-one video call with NRDC President Manish Bapna.
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In addition, Regan attended board meetings for both the LCV and NRDC in June 2021 and October 2021, respectively.
"The meeting with Administrator Regan was an opportunity to talk about the agency’s important work protecting the environment and public health," said NRDC spokesperson Jake Thompson. "This was about how to make sure the greatest possible benefits accrue to the greatest number of Americans by, for example, confronting the climate crisis in a way that will cut energy costs for our families, strengthen the economy, advance equity and make the country more secure."
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