Running the Numbers on Oil, Coal Industry Advertising

New numbers released today by the Center for American Progress show that industry groups, including many associated with the oil and coal industries, spent a total of $68.5 million so far this year on energy-related advertisements, including $17.3 million in the last three months as the midterm elections approached.

Some examples, from CAP’s interactive state-by-state breakdown:

• The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity spent $16.3 million this year on advertising, focusing in the last three months before the mid-term elections on Washington, D.C., Montana and Texas.
• The American Petroleum Institute spent $39.3 million on advertising this year, including $2 million in the last several months on ads in Washington, D.C., Michigan and Missouri opposing efforts to put new taxes on the industry.
• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent $3.8 million this year on energy-related advertising.

CAP released the numbers just weeks before the midterm elections, when environmental groups are also spending millions on advertising. For example, the Sierra Club and the League of Conversation voters released a television and radio ad today targeting the Republican candidate for Congress in Virginia’s fifth district, Robert Hurt. Hurt is running against Rep. Tom Perriello (D), who has come under some criticism in the state for voting for the House cap-and-trade bill. The ad comes as LCV is spending more than it ever has on the midterm elections this year. Here’s a list of its other ads.