Frontiers of Freedomย (FoF)
Background
Frontiers of Freedom (FoF) is a 501(C)4 nonprofit organization founded in 1995 by U.S. Senator Malcolm Wallup. It describes itself as an educational foundation with the mission โto promote the principles of individual freedom, peace through strength, limited government, free enterprise, free markets, and traditional American values as found in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.โ1โMission,โ Frontiers of Freedom. Archived October 17, 2015. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6cMEE3V5C
Frontiers of Freedom, Inc. does business as โFrontiers of Freedom,โ a 501(C)4 nonprofit which is tax-exempt but can’t accept tax-deductible donations, and also maintains a separate โeducational organizationโ called the Frontiers of Freedom Institute that operates under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. 2โAbout Us,โ Frontiers of Freedom. Archived February 5,ย 2003.ย In their original mission statement, the Frontiers of Freedom described themselves as โthe antithesis to the Sierra Club and Vice President Al Gore’s Earth in the Balance.โ3โFrontiers of Freedom Mission Statement,โ Frontiers of Freedom. Archived August 16, 2000.ย Archived .pdfย on file atย DeSmog.
In 2002, Frontiers of Freedom released โTen Tenetsโ as their mission statement. Their ninth tenet reads as follows (emphasis added) โTo remove sound science from public policy is legislative and regulatory malpractice. To employ junk science in public policy is unethical and irresponsible.โ Notably, the term โJunk Scienceโ was often used by byย Steve โThe Junkmanโ Milloy.4(Press Release). โFrontiers of Freedom Releases ‘Ten (Belief) Tenets,’โ Frontiers of Freedom, September 20, 2002. Republished by Free Republic. Archived October 17, 2015. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6cMEr8A1E
Frontiers of Freedom (FoF) maintains a number of โCentersโ on their website ย including theย Center for Constitutional and Political Studies, Center for Economic Liberty and Property Rights, Center for National Security, Center for Science and Public Policy, and Reagan Legacy.5โCenters,โ Frontiers of Freedom. Archived October 17, 2015. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6cMFA2oVK
Stance on Climateย Change
Octoberย 2015
โMany scientists are predicting the onset of two or three centuries of cooler weather โ which would mean bigger glaciers. Thatโs despite the worldโs growing use of fossil fuels. No matter what humans do, temperature trends go up, and then down; glaciers expand and then recede; sea levels rise and then fall, explains Will Happer, professor emeritus of physics at Princeton.โ6โWake up, Obama, climate change has been happening forever,โ Frontiers of Freedom, October 10, 2015. Archived October 18, 2015. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6cMc4Wtlq
2010
Frontiers of Freedom used to maintain a list of โGlobal Warming Papersโ including manyย written by prominent climate change skeptics including:7โGlobal Warming – Papers,โ Frontiers of Freedom Centre for Science and Public Policy. Archived July 12,ย 2010.
- Cliff D.ย Ollier
- Craigย Idso
- Christopherย Monkton
- Williamย Kininmonth
- Nigelย Lawson
- Senator Jamesย Inhofe
- Richard S.ย Courtney
- Chrisย Horner
Octoberย 2007
โThe Earth’s climate has changed many times with many cooling phases and many warming phases. The Earthโs current modest warming trend (less than 1 degree C over 100 years), is well within historical norms.โ8George Landrith. โClimate Change: Fabricating the Numbers,โ Frontiers of Freedom, October 3,ย 2007.
February 2004
โClimate has always varied, often with large swings. [โฆ] These dramatic climatic ebbs and flows are naturally occurring events. A more appropriate response to potential climate change is the production and employment of resources toward meaningful adaptation strategies.โ9โCongressional Staff Seminarโ (PDF),ย Science Hill Watch, February 2, 2004. Archived .pdf on file atย DeSmog.
Funding
In 2001, the Wall Street Journal reported that the largest donors to Frontiers for Freedom were Philip Morris, Exxon Mobil, and R.J. Reynolds.10Anne Marie Chaker. โConservatives Seek IRS Inquiry On Environmental Group’s Status,โย The Wall Street Journal, June 21, 2001 (subscriptionย required).
Frontiers of Freedom Institute is the 501(c)(3) arm of FoF. The other arm,ย Frontiers of Freedom, Inc., is a 501(c)4 organization and so is not required to publicly list their donors. According to the IRS, 501(c)4 organizations are also permitted to attempt to influence legislation, and participate in political campaigns or elections.11โRev. Rul. 68-656, 1968-2 C.B. 216,โ (PDF), Internal Revenueย Service. 12โ7.25.4.6 ย (02-09-1999) Exemption Under IRC 501(c)(4) v. Exemption Under IRC 501(c)(3),โ Irs.gov. Accessed October 17,ย 2015.
The following is compiled from data the Conservative Transparency Project collectedย from publicly available 990 tax forms for Frontiers of Freedom, Inc.13โSearch String: Frontiers of Freedom,โ Conservative Transparency. Search performed May 12,ย 2016.
View the attached spreadsheet for additional information on Frontiers of Freedom Funding by year (.xlsx).
| Donor | Frontiers of Freedom | Frontiers of Freedom Institute | Grand Total |
| Exxon Mobil | $1,127,000 | $1,127,000 | |
| Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation | $175,000 | $175,000 | |
| John M. Olin Foundation | $125,000 | $125,000 | |
| DonorsTrust | $107,500 | $107,500 | |
| Earhart Foundation | $100,000 | $100,000 | |
| Sarah Scaife Foundation | $100,000 | $100,000 | |
| The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation | $100,000 | $100,000 | |
| Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation | $160,000 | $160,000 | |
| The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation | $48,450 | $48,450 | |
| The Carthage Foundation | $35,000 | $35,000 | |
| William H. Donner Foundation | $35,000 | $35,000 | |
| The Roe Foundation | $7,500 | $7,500 | |
| True Foundation | $7,200 | $7,200 | |
| Aequus Institute | $4,500 | $4,500 | |
| Windway Foundation | $4,000 | $4,000 | |
| Armstrong Foundation | $4,500 | $4,500 | |
| The Randolph Foundation | $25,000 | $25,000 | |
| Americans for Tax Reform Foundation | $15,000 | $15,000 | |
| Institute for Liberty | $17,500 | $17,500 | |
| Institute for Energy Research | $200,000 | $200,000 | |
| Grand Total | $62,000 | $2,336,150 | $2,398,150 |
ExxonMobilย Funding
According to ExxonSecrets, FoF has received a total of $1,272,000 from ExxonMobil since 1998.14ExxonSecrets Factsheet: Frontiers of Freedom, FoF. Accessed March 31,ย 2019.
Kochย Funding
Greenpeaceย reportsย that FoF received a total of $335,000 from Koch Foundations between 2004 and 2015:15โFrontiers of Freedom: Koch Industries Climate Denial Front Group,โ Greenpeace USA. Archived March 14, 2017. Archive.is URL:ย https://archive.is/FZcPh
| Year | Charles Koch Foundation | Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation | Grand Total |
| 2004 | $25,000 | $25,000 | |
| 2005 | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
| 2006 | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
| 2007 | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
| 2014 | $75,000 | $75,000 | |
| 2015 | $85,000 | $85,000 | |
| Grand Total | $160,000 | $175,000 | $335,000 |
990ย Forms
Keyย People
View key people by year below, or view the attached spreadsheet for a full list of Frontiers of Freedomโs key People (.xlsx) including sources.
George C.ย Landrith
George C. Landrith, President and CEO of Frontiers of Freedom, previously served as the Vice President and General Counsel to the National Legal Center for the Public Interest (now associated with the American Enterprise Institute.)
Pauย Georgia
Paul Georgiaย was a past Analyst at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, and past Chief Economist for the National Mining Association.
Peterย Roff
Peter Roff was the political director of Newt Gingrichโs GOPAC.
Otherย People
- Myron Ebell โ former Policy Director (1996 – 1999)16ExxonSecrets Factsheet: Frontiers of Freedom, FoF. Accessed March 31,ย 2019.
- Paul Driessen โ Senior Fellow (as of May, 2005)17ExxonSecrets Factsheet: Frontiers of Freedom, FoF. Accessed March 31,ย 2019.
- Robert Ferguson โ Past Executive Director, FoF’s Center for Science and Public Policy18Willie Soon and Robert Ferguson. โEat More Fish!โ (PDF),ย The Wall Street Journal Online, August 15, 2005 (Dow Jones Reprints). Archived January 9,ย 2006.
- Willie Soon โ โChief Science Researcher,โ FoF’s Center for Science and Public Policy (as of August, 2005)19Willie Soon and Robert Ferguson. โEat More Fish!โ (PDF),ย The Wall Street Journal Online, August 15, 2005 (Dow Jones Reprints). Archived January 9,ย 2006.
- Christopher C. Hornerย โ Past General Counsel and Senior Policy Adviser (2012).20โStaff,โ Frontiers of Freedom. Archived January 3,ย 2012.
Actions
April 6,ย 2020
FoF, represented by George Landrith,ย was signatory to anย American Energy Alliance letterย to President Donald Trump supporting theย Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule which would scrap federal fuel economy mandates underย the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program.21CAFE-Coaliton-to-Trump-April-2020-9 (PDF),ย American Energy Alliance.
Describingย CAFE, the letter contends: โThose families and individuals who prefer or need trucks,ย SUVs, and crossovers pay more to subsidize those who buy smaller vehicles or electric vehicles under the existing mandate. This significant, needless, and unjust cost is a very real regressive tax on American families that has made our country worse off.โ22CAFE-Coaliton-to-Trump-April-2020-9 (PDF),ย American Energy Alliance.
May 9,ย 2019
Frontiers of Freedom, represented by George Landrith, signed on to anย open letterย organized by the American Energy Alliance designed to fightย against an electric vehicle tax credit.23โDear Senator Grassley, Senator Wyden, Representative Neal and Representative Brady:โ May 9, 2019. Retrieved from The Daily Caller.
โThe American Energy Alliance has organized a coalition to proclaim in one unified voice that there should be no expansion of the misguided electric vehicle tax credit,โ Thomas Pyle wrote in a statement, quoted at The Daily Caller. โThere is no question that the electric vehicle tax credit distorts the auto market to no gain.โ24Christ White. โCONSERVATIVES WARN LAWMAKERS: TESLAโS TAX CREDITS โOVERWHELMINGLY BENEFIT THE RICHโ,โThe Daily Caller, May 9, 2019. Archived May 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL:ย https://archive.fo/qzvF3
According to Pyle and others who signed the letter,ย electric vehicle tax credits โoverwhelmingly benefit the rich.โย DeSmog’sย Koch vs. Cleanย projectย has systematically debunked this, among other well-rehearsed talking points and misinformation put forward by industry about electric vehicles.25Christ White. โCONSERVATIVES WARN LAWMAKERS: TESLAโS TAX CREDITS โOVERWHELMINGLY BENEFIT THE RICHโ,โThe Daily Caller, May 9, 2019. Archived May 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL:ย https://archive.fo/qzvF3
The letter cites research by the Pacific Research Institute (PRI), a group that has received over $600,000 from ExxonMobil and millions from โdark moneyโ groups DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund.ย
July 18,ย 2018
Frontiers of Freedom, represented by George Landrith, was among signatories of a letter supporting an anti-carbon tax resolution fromย House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.26โ41 Conservative Groups Support Scalise/McKinley Anti-Carbon Tax Resolution,โ Americans for Tax Reform, July 18, 2018. Archived .pdf on file atย DeSmog.
โWe oppose any carbon tax. We oppose a carbon tax because it would lead to less income and fewer jobs for American families,โ the letter read. โWe support the House Concurrent Resolution in opposition to a job-killing carbon tax and urge members to co-sponsor and support this effort.โ27โ41 Conservative Groups Support Scalise/McKinley Anti-Carbon Tax Resolution,โ Americans for Tax Reform, July 18, 2018. Archived .pdf on file atย DeSmog.
The resolution would call a carbon tax โdetrimental to the United States economy.โE&E Newsย reported it was similar to a measure that passed the House in 2016.ย Rep. Carlos Curbelo of Florida, co-chairman of the Climate Solutions Caucus, said he would not vote for the resolution.28Nick Sobczyk. โHouse voting on anti-carbon-tax measure: ‘Pass the popcorn’,โ E&E News, July 16, 2018. Archived Aug 2, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.fo/aTP8h
โProtecting our environment and economic growth are not mutually exclusive,โ he said in a statement. โThe resolution presents a false choice.โ29Nick Sobczyk. โHouse voting on anti-carbon-tax measure: ‘Pass the popcorn’,โ E&E News, July 16, 2018. Archived Aug 2, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.fo/aTP8h
The Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) issued a point-by-point rebuttal of the measure when it was first introduced.30โTeaching opportunities from House Concurrent Resolution 119 (H.Con.Res.119)โ (PDF), Citizens’ Climate Lobby, April 30,ย 2018.
January 12,ย 2017
George C. Landrith, President and CEO of Frontiers of Freedom, ย was a signatory to aย January 12, 2017 official letter of support (PDF) for Scott Pruitt,ย in which numerous groups, includingย The Heartland Institute,ย American Energy Alliance (AEA), and others,ย declared that the Senate should โswiftly approve his nominationโ for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ย Other signatories of the letter included:31โDear Senators,โ (PDF),ย Competitive Enterprise Institute, January 12, 2017. Archived .pdfย onย fileย atย DeSmog.
- Thomas Pyle,ย Americanย Energyย Alliance
- Michael Needham,ย Heritage Actionย forย America
- Grover Norquist,ย Americans forย Taxย Reform
- Kent Lassman, Competitiveย Enterpriseย Institute
- Adam Brandon,ย FreedomWorks
- David McIntosh,ย Clubย forย Growth
- Phil Kerpen,ย Americanย Commitment
- Craig Richardson, Energy and Environmentย Actionย Team
- David Williams, Taxpayersย Protectionย Alliance
- Harry Alford,ย National Black Chamberย ofย Commerce
- Jim Martin,ย 60ย Plus
- Andrew Langer,ย Instituteย forย Liberty
- Heather Higgins,ย Independentย Womenโsย Voice
- Independenceย Institute
- Richard Martin,ย Americans forย Limitedย Government
- Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes (COAST)
- Brett Healy,ย MacIverย Institute
- Joseph Bast,ย Heartlandย Institute
- Randy Eminger, Energyย Policyย Network
- Paul Gessing,ย Rioย Grandeย Foundation
- Mike Nasi, Balanced Energyย forย Texas
- Brent Mead,ย Montanaย Policyย Institute
- Forest Thigpen,ย Mississippi Center forย Publicย Policy
June 13,ย 2016
Frontiers of Freedom (FoF) was listed as a creditor in Peabody Energy’s 2016 bankruptcy filings, reports the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD/PRWatch).32Nick Surgey. โPeabody Coal Bankruptcy Reveals Climate Denial Network Funding,โ PRWatch, June 13, 2016. Archived June 20, 2016. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6iPmXjc4W
While the available bankruptcyย documents do not list the scale or dates of funding, they outline Peabody Energy’s financial ties to a large network of groups promoting climate change denial.33โIn re: Peabody Energy Corporation, et al. Debtors,โ United States Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division, ย Case 16-42529, May 27, 2016. Retrieved fromย DocumentCloud.
Prominent individuals appearing in the documents includeย climate deniersย Willie Soon,ย Richard Lindzen,ย Roy Spencerย andย Richard Berman. The long list of organizations also includes groups such asย Americans for Prosperity,ย American Legislative Exchange Council,ย CFACT,ย Institute for Energy Research,ย State Policy Network, theย U.S.ย Chamber of Commerceย and dozensย more.34Farron Cousins. โCourt Documents Show Coal Giant Peabody Energy Funded Dozens Of Climate Denial Groups,โ DeSmog, June 13,ย 2016.
The Guardianย also analysed and reported on the Peabody bankruptcyย findings:35Suzanne Goldenberg and Helena Bengtsson. โBiggest US coal company funded dozens of groups questioning climate change,โ The Guardian, June 13, 2016. Archived June 20, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6iPnEUG1o
โThese groups collectively are the heart and soul of climate denial,โ said Kert Davies, founder of the Climate Investigation Center, who has spent 20 years tracking funding for climate denial. โItโs the broadest list I have seen of one company funding so many nodes in the denialย machine.โ
The companyโs filings reveal funding for a range of organisations which have fought Barack Obamaโs plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and denied the very existence of climate change.ย [โฆ]
Among Peabodyโs beneficiaries, the Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change has insisted โ wrongly โ that carbon emissions are not a threat but โthe elixir of lifeโ while the American Legislative Exchange Council is trying to overturn Environmental Protection Agency rules cutting emissions from power plants. Meanwhile, Americans for Prosperity campaigns against carbon pricing. The Oklahoma chapter was on the list.ย [โฆ]
โThe breadth of the groups with financial ties to Peabody is extraordinary. Thinktanks, litigation groups, climate scientists, political organisations, dozens of organisations blocking action on climate all receiving funding from the coal industry,โ said Nick Surgey, director of research for the Center for Media andย Democracy.
โWe expected to see some denial money, but it looks like Peabody is the treasury for a very substantial part of the climate denialย movement.โ
Notable organizations listed in theย initialย documentsย include:
- 60 Plusย Association
- The American Coalition for Clean Coalย Electricity
- American Energyย Alliance
- Alliance For Energy And Economicย Growth
- American Energyย Alliance
- American Legislative Exchangeย Council
- Americans For Prosperity Oklahoma
- Atlas Economic Researchย Foundation
- Berman And Company,ย Inc
- Consumer Energyย Alliance
- Center For Clean Airย Policy
- Center for Energy and Economicย Development
- Center For The Study Of Carbon Dioxide And Globalย Change
- Coalition for Responsibleย Regulation
- Committee For A Constructiveย Tomorrow
- Council on Stateย Taxation
- DCI Group AZ, LLC
- Ducksย Unlimited
- Energy & Environment Legalย Institute
- Edison Electricย Institute
- Franklin Center for Government and Publicย Integrity
- Free Market Environmental Lawย Clinic
- Frontiers Of Freedomย Institute
- George C. Marshallย Institute
- Hill Knowltonย Strategies
- Hill Knowlton,ย Inc
- Hudsonย Institute
- Hunton &ย Williams
- Independenceย Institute
- Institute For Energyย Research
- Institute forย Liberty
- National Association ofย Manufacturers
- National Black Chamber ofย Commerce
- National Conference of Stateย Legislatures
- National Miningย Association
- National Association of Regulatory Utilityย Commissioners
- National Rural Electric Cooperativeย Association
- NextGen Energyย Council
- PACE (May refer to Partnership for Affordable Clean Energy)
- Science & Public Policyย Institute
- Sidley Austin LLP
- State Policyย Network
- Texas Conservative Coalition Researchย Institute
- Texas Public Policyย Foundation
- U.S. Chamber ofย Commerce
- Western Businessย Roundtable
Notable individuals named in the initial documents include theย following:
December 13, 2015
Writing as a guest blogger on Watts Up With That, CFACT‘sย executive director Craig Rucker denounced the latest UN climate change agreement:36โIn re: Peabody Energy Corporation, et al. Debtors,โ United States Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division, ย Case 16-42529, May 27, 2016. Retrieved fromย DocumentCloud.
โThis agreement will not meaningfully alter the temperature of the Earth, even under the U.N.โs own computer models.
โThe bad news is that it plants the seeds of a new UN climate regime that left unchecked will swell into a bureaucratic behemoth.โ
April 7,ย 2016
Frontiers of Freedom Presidentย George Landrith issued the following statement on proposed renewable energy tax benefits:37โGroup of Senators Let America Down,โ Frontiers of Freedom, April 7, 2016. Archived May 17, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6ha0i0ZZq
โMillions of Americans are deeply disappointed that Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) worked to insert sweetheart tax benefits for special interests in the so-called renewable energy industry. Simply stated, hard working Americans who are struggling to make ends meet may now end up paying hundreds of millions of dollars to well-healed ‘green energy’ companies โ like wind and geothermal energy โ who can afford the best lobbyists money can buy.
Not only do ratepayers pay more on the electrical bill for these forms of ‘green energy,’ they also pay for the corporate welfare these special interests receive. This is doubly insulting. This is reminiscent of the Solyndra scandal โ taxpayers paying hundreds of millions for a failed business model.
Just two days ago, Frontiers of Freedom was part of a large coalition of organizations representing millions of Americans expressing our strong opposition to extending expiring renewable energy tax benefits when reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration. In that letter, we stated, ‘Government subsidies, loans, mandates, and tax policies regarding renewables have consistently failed to deliver on their promises of long-term job creation and economic viability. Americans deserve access to energy solutions that are affordable and reliable โ ones that should be able to stand on their own in the marketplace.’
Americans have once again been let down by some of their elected representatives in the U.S. Senate. Given the frustration and anger that is plainly visible in the electorate, it is shocking that business continues as usual inside the Beltway. Out of touch politicians often decry the frustrated and angry tone of the public. But if they are concerned about the tone of the electorate, politicians must start listening to regular Americans and abandon cozy corporate welfare deals that have become all too much the norm in Washington. The budget process must return to ‘regular order’ where the public can see what is being done with their money and where secret backroom deals are prohibited.โ
July 27,ย 2015
Frontiers of Freedom was a signatory to a letter to House members urging them to support a bill that would kill the wind production tax credit (PTC).38โCoalition to Congress: Support PTC Elimination Actโ (PDF), Marchant.house.gov, July 27, 2015. Archived .pdf on file atย DeSmog.
The letter claimed the proposed legislation โprotects Americans from the large costs of an out-of-control subsidy.โ Since the PTC was created, the letter asserted that, โtaxpayers have sent billions of dollars to large multinational corporations in the wind industry.โ
The bill referenced in the letter, โThe PTC Elimination Act,โ was sponsored by Mike Pompeo of Wichita, Kansasโthe top recipient of Koch funding in Congress. As of November 17, the bill had 53 co-sponsors, forty-six of which had received contributions from Koch Industries over the last five years, reports Elliot Negin of the Union of Concerned Scientists.39Elliott Negin. โHow the Koch Brothers’ ‘Bankers’ Snuck an Anti-Wind Op-Ed Past the New York Times,โย Alternet, January 7, 2016.ย Archived May 17, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6hZz1hus4
Signatories included:
- Thomas Pyle โ American Energyย Alliance
- Mike Needham โ Heritage Action forย America
- Brett Gardner โ Americans forย Prosperity
- Grover Norquist โ Americans for Taxย Reform
- Adam Brandon โ FreedomWorks
- Myron Ebell โ Competitive Enterpriseย Institute
- Phil Kerpen โ Americanย Commitment
- Matthew Kendrach โ 60 Plusย Association
- George Landrith โ Frontiers ofย Freedom
- David Williams โ Taxpayers Protectionย Alliance
- Sabrina Schaeffer โ Independent Womenโsย Forum
- Heather Higgins โ Independent Womenโsย Voice
- Judson Phillips โ Tea Partyย Nation
- Colin Hanna โ Let Freedomย Ring
- Andrew Moylan โ Rย Street
- Marita Noon โ Energy Makes Americaย Great
- Seton Motley โ Lessย Government
- Kristin Fecteau โ Campaign to Freeย America
- Horace Cooper โ Projectย 21
- Tom Brinkman โ Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending andย Taxes
March 25,ย 2015
Frontiers of Freedom was one of a group of organizations to submit a group letter to chairman Michael Boots regarding the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review. ย According to the letter, the NEPA review is โan inappropriate framework for making climate policy.โ40โConsideration of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change effects in NEPA Reviews,โ Frontiers of Freedom, March 29, 2015. Archived October 18,ย 2015.ย
Other organizations behind the letter include many which have received significant funding from the fossil fuel industry and right-wing foundations:
- Competitive Enterpriseย Institute
- CO2ย Science
- CFACT
- Americans for Taxย Reform
- Institute for Energyย Research
- E&Eย Legal
- Science and Environmental Policyย Project
- SBEย Council
- FreedomWorks
- Americanย Commitment
- Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship ofย Creation
- The Heartlandย Institute
- 60 Plusย Association
- National Centre for Public Policyย Research
October 2013
Frontiers of Freedom was behind a coalition letter urging Congress to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard. The letter wasย also signed by the Heartland Institute.41Taylor Smith. โFrontiers of Freedom Backs Coalition Supporting Swift Repeal of the Renewable Fuel Standard,โย Somewhat Reasonabileย (Heartland Institute Blog), October 1, 2013. Archived May 17, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6hZvQZiIP
โWe, collectively and individually, believe the only reform to this failed government mandate should be to repeal the RFS. Repealing this mandate would bring certainty to the fuel markets and eliminate the harmful impacts this government program has had on businesses and consumers,โ the FoF letter reads. โ[โฆ] With the recent scandals at EPA showing its lack of transparency and its willingness to break the law to further its agenda, expanding the RFS would only give the EPA another avenue to exercise power over the lives of Americans and further harm the economy.โ42โCoalition Letter Opposing the Renewable Fuel Standard,โ Frontiers of Freedom, September 27, 2014. Archived May 17, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6hZvv4r51
May 21โ23,ย 2012
Frontiers of Freedom is listed as an official co-sponsorย (PDF) of the Heartland Institute’s Seventh International Conference on Climate Changeย (ICCC7) in Chicago, IL.43“Seventh International Conference on Climate Change: Sponsored by the Heartland Institute” (PDF), the Heartland Institute. Archived August 15,ย 2015.
DeSmog investigated sponsors behind the conference and found they had collectively received over $67 millionย from ExxonMobil, Koch, and Scaife family foundations.44โA Closer Look at Heartland’s ICCC7 Denial-a-Palooza Speakers and Sponsors,โย DeSmog, May 23,ย 2012.ย
March 2009
Frontiers of Freedom is listed as a sponsor of the Heartland Institute’s Second International Conference on Climate Change.45โCo-Sponsors,โ Third International Conference on Climate Change. Archived July 14,ย 2010.
DeSmog found that conference sponsors had collectively received over $47 million from energy companies and right-wing foundations, with over 78% coming from Scaife Family Foundations.46โHeartland Institute’s 2009 Climate Conference in New York: funding history of the sponsors,โย DeSmog.
April 12,ย 2007
George Landrith, president of the Frontiers of Freedom Institute (FFI), said the idea behind the Durbin-Hagel proposal which would have the CIA and Pentagon assess the national security implications of climate change is โa big waste of time and effortโ at a period when numerous security issues need to be addressed.47โDurbin, Hagel say global warming a national security threat,โย OneNewsNow, April 12, 2007. Archived May 17, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6hZuZ1m6P
โWe’ve seen in the last several years, leading up to 9/11, lots of intelligence and security failures,โ Landrith notes. โAnd it seems to me that diverting [the agencies’] attention with things that matter, like protecting Americans from people who want to kill them, would be a much higher priority than worrying about whether temperature change is going to change by one degree over the next hundred years. [โฆ] I just don’t see how that military’s problem.โ48โDurbin, Hagel say global warming a national security threat,โย OneNewsNow, April 12, 2007. Archived May 17, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6hZuZ1m6P
According to Landrith, former Vice President Al Gore and โthe global-warming alarmists at the U.N.,โ have convinced people that global warming is real, that the science behind it is certain, and that there is no serious debate about its reality. โAnd of course, that’s not true,โ says Landrith. โI talk to scientists everyday who question it and scratch their head [about what global-warming advocates are saying].โ And to the extent that there is a consensus about global warming, he adds, โit seems that there’s a political consensus โ which is [when] politicians have licked their finger, stuck it in the air, and they have a sense that the breeze is blowing in a certain direction. [โฆ]โ49โDurbin, Hagel say global warming a national security threat,โย OneNewsNow, April 12, 2007. Archived May 17, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6hZuZ1m6P
2003-2004
ExxonMobil received two grants from ExxonMobil in 2003: one $95,000 grant for โGlobal Climate Change Outreach,โ and another $50,000 grant for โGlobal Climate Change Activities,โ Greenpeace reports.50Cindy Baxter. โExxon Knew Climate Change Was Coming, but What Matters Is What Exxon Did,โ Greenpeace USA, November 12, 2015. Archived May 17, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6hZwkzyNw
Exxon gave more than $200,000 to the Frontiers of Freedom Institute in 2004, reports theย Portland Press Herald.51Amy Lieberman and Susanne Rust. โWhile denying climate change in Washington, Big Oil braced for a hotter planet,โย Portland Press Herald, January 11, 2016.ย Archived May 17, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6ha0EYRzD
June 7, 2002
President George Landrith signed a letter to President Bush, asking him to withdraw the โClimate Action Report 2002.โ52Fred L. Smith Jr. โJoint Letter To President Bush On The EPA’s Climate Action Report,โ Competitive Enterprise Institute, June 7, 2002. Archived October 18, 2015. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6cMapDVLb
The letter describes the Climate Action Report as โlargely a compilation and summary of junk science produced by the Clinton-Gore Administration in order to support their Kyoto agenda,โ and calls on Bush to have the report โre-written on the basis of sound science.โ
A further demand of the letter is for Bush to โdismiss or re-assign all administration employees who are not pursuing your agenda, just as you have done in several similar instances.โ53Fred L. Smith Jr. โJoint Letter To President Bush On The EPA’s Climate Action Report,โ Competitive Enterprise Institute, June 7, 2002. Archived October 18, 2015. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6cMapDVLb
May 14, 2002
Held a briefing at the National Press Club, in conjunction with the Cooler Heads Coalition and The Science and Environmental Policy Project, entitled โExperts Discuss Why United States Should Withdraw Its Signature From Kyoto; Whatever Happened To Global Warming Anyway?โ54โExperts Discuss Why United States Should Withdraw Its Signature From Kyoto; Whatever Happened To Global Warming Anyway?โย U.S. Newswire, May 14, 2002. Archived October 19,ย 2002.
Speakers included John Daly, S. Fred Singer, and Chris Horner.
August 19, 1997
Held a โCountdown to Kyotoโ conference in Canberra, Australia โto bolster support for the government’s increasingly isolated position on global warming in preparation forย Kyoto.โ
The conference was co-organized by The Australian APEC Study Centre and featured well known climate change deniers such as Patrick Michaels, John Christy, and Alan Oxley. Other speakers including Jerry Ellis, past Chairman of the multinational BHP Ltd. And Peter Hartley, director of a think tank called the Tasmania Institute.55โCountdown to Kyoto: The Consequences of Mandatory CO2 Emission Reductions,โ Monash University. Archived August 6,ย 1997.
At the conference, U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel commented, โI believe we are headed down the wrong path in the negotiations for any global climate treaty to be signed in Kyoto, Japan, this December.โ56โCountdown to Kyotoโ an International Conference on The Consequences of Mandatory Global CO2 Emission Reductions: Remarks by United States Senator Chuck Hagelโ (PDF), Retrieved from APEC.org.au.ย Archived .pdfย on file atย DeSmog.
Contact &ย Location
As of June, 2016 Frontiers of Freedom listed the following contact information on its website:57โContact Us,โ Frontiers of Freedom. Archived June 8, 2016.ย WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6i6a2OGXX
Frontiers of Freedom
4094 Majestic Blvd., #380
Fairfax, Virginiaย 22033703-246-0110 office
703-246-0129ย faxEmail: [email protected]
Relatedย Organizations
- The Center for Science and Public Policy (CSPP) โ A pastย project of FoF, set up inย 2003.
- The Alliance for Americaย Network
- The Grassroots ESAย Coalition
- Cooler Heads Coalition โย Member58Cooler Heads Coalition homepage (globalwarming.org). Archived October 18,ย 2015.
Socialย Media
- @FoF_Liberty onย Twitter.
- โFrontiers of Freedomโ onย Facebook.
- โFrontiers of Freedom Instituteโ onย LinkedIn.
Otherย Resources
- โFrontiers of Freedom,โ Sourcewatchย profile.
- โFrontiers of Freedom – Koch Industries Climate Denial Front Group,โย Greenpeace.
- โDeniers: Frontiers of Freedom (including Center for Science & Public Policy),โ ExxonSecretsย Wiki.
- Greenpeace Investigations documents on the Frontiers of Freedom.
Resources
- 1โMission,โ Frontiers of Freedom. Archived October 17, 2015. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6cMEE3V5C
- 2โAbout Us,โ Frontiers of Freedom. Archived February 5,ย 2003.ย
- 3โFrontiers of Freedom Mission Statement,โ Frontiers of Freedom. Archived August 16, 2000.ย Archived .pdfย on file atย DeSmog.
- 4(Press Release). โFrontiers of Freedom Releases ‘Ten (Belief) Tenets,’โ Frontiers of Freedom, September 20, 2002. Republished by Free Republic. Archived October 17, 2015. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6cMEr8A1E
- 5โCenters,โ Frontiers of Freedom. Archived October 17, 2015. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6cMFA2oVK
- 6โWake up, Obama, climate change has been happening forever,โ Frontiers of Freedom, October 10, 2015. Archived October 18, 2015. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6cMc4Wtlq
- 7โGlobal Warming – Papers,โ Frontiers of Freedom Centre for Science and Public Policy. Archived July 12,ย 2010.
- 8George Landrith. โClimate Change: Fabricating the Numbers,โ Frontiers of Freedom, October 3,ย 2007.
- 9โCongressional Staff Seminarโ (PDF),ย Science Hill Watch, February 2, 2004. Archived .pdf on file atย DeSmog.
- 10Anne Marie Chaker. โConservatives Seek IRS Inquiry On Environmental Group’s Status,โย The Wall Street Journal, June 21, 2001 (subscriptionย required).
- 11โRev. Rul. 68-656, 1968-2 C.B. 216,โ (PDF), Internal Revenueย Service.
- 12โ7.25.4.6 ย (02-09-1999) Exemption Under IRC 501(c)(4) v. Exemption Under IRC 501(c)(3),โ Irs.gov. Accessed October 17,ย 2015.
- 13โSearch String: Frontiers of Freedom,โ Conservative Transparency. Search performed May 12,ย 2016.
- 14ExxonSecrets Factsheet: Frontiers of Freedom, FoF. Accessed March 31,ย 2019.
- 15โFrontiers of Freedom: Koch Industries Climate Denial Front Group,โ Greenpeace USA. Archived March 14, 2017. Archive.is URL:ย https://archive.is/FZcPh
- 16ExxonSecrets Factsheet: Frontiers of Freedom, FoF. Accessed March 31,ย 2019.
- 17ExxonSecrets Factsheet: Frontiers of Freedom, FoF. Accessed March 31,ย 2019.
- 18Willie Soon and Robert Ferguson. โEat More Fish!โ (PDF),ย The Wall Street Journal Online, August 15, 2005 (Dow Jones Reprints). Archived January 9,ย 2006.
- 19Willie Soon and Robert Ferguson. โEat More Fish!โ (PDF),ย The Wall Street Journal Online, August 15, 2005 (Dow Jones Reprints). Archived January 9,ย 2006.
- 20โStaff,โ Frontiers of Freedom. Archived January 3,ย 2012.
- 21CAFE-Coaliton-to-Trump-April-2020-9 (PDF),ย American Energy Alliance.
- 22CAFE-Coaliton-to-Trump-April-2020-9 (PDF),ย American Energy Alliance.
- 23โDear Senator Grassley, Senator Wyden, Representative Neal and Representative Brady:โ May 9, 2019. Retrieved from The Daily Caller.
- 24Christ White. โCONSERVATIVES WARN LAWMAKERS: TESLAโS TAX CREDITS โOVERWHELMINGLY BENEFIT THE RICHโ,โThe Daily Caller, May 9, 2019. Archived May 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL:ย https://archive.fo/qzvF3
- 25Christ White. โCONSERVATIVES WARN LAWMAKERS: TESLAโS TAX CREDITS โOVERWHELMINGLY BENEFIT THE RICHโ,โThe Daily Caller, May 9, 2019. Archived May 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL:ย https://archive.fo/qzvF3
- 26โ41 Conservative Groups Support Scalise/McKinley Anti-Carbon Tax Resolution,โ Americans for Tax Reform, July 18, 2018. Archived .pdf on file atย DeSmog.
- 27โ41 Conservative Groups Support Scalise/McKinley Anti-Carbon Tax Resolution,โ Americans for Tax Reform, July 18, 2018. Archived .pdf on file atย DeSmog.
- 28Nick Sobczyk. โHouse voting on anti-carbon-tax measure: ‘Pass the popcorn’,โ E&E News, July 16, 2018. Archived Aug 2, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.fo/aTP8h
- 29Nick Sobczyk. โHouse voting on anti-carbon-tax measure: ‘Pass the popcorn’,โ E&E News, July 16, 2018. Archived Aug 2, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.fo/aTP8h
- 30โTeaching opportunities from House Concurrent Resolution 119 (H.Con.Res.119)โ (PDF), Citizens’ Climate Lobby, April 30,ย 2018.
- 31โDear Senators,โ (PDF),ย Competitive Enterprise Institute, January 12, 2017. Archived .pdfย onย fileย atย DeSmog.
- 32Nick Surgey. โPeabody Coal Bankruptcy Reveals Climate Denial Network Funding,โ PRWatch, June 13, 2016. Archived June 20, 2016. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6iPmXjc4W
- 33โIn re: Peabody Energy Corporation, et al. Debtors,โ United States Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division, ย Case 16-42529, May 27, 2016. Retrieved fromย DocumentCloud.
- 34Farron Cousins. โCourt Documents Show Coal Giant Peabody Energy Funded Dozens Of Climate Denial Groups,โ DeSmog, June 13,ย 2016.
- 35Suzanne Goldenberg and Helena Bengtsson. โBiggest US coal company funded dozens of groups questioning climate change,โ The Guardian, June 13, 2016. Archived June 20, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6iPnEUG1o
- 36โIn re: Peabody Energy Corporation, et al. Debtors,โ United States Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division, ย Case 16-42529, May 27, 2016. Retrieved fromย DocumentCloud.
- 37โGroup of Senators Let America Down,โ Frontiers of Freedom, April 7, 2016. Archived May 17, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6ha0i0ZZq
- 38โCoalition to Congress: Support PTC Elimination Actโ (PDF), Marchant.house.gov, July 27, 2015. Archived .pdf on file atย DeSmog.
- 39Elliott Negin. โHow the Koch Brothers’ ‘Bankers’ Snuck an Anti-Wind Op-Ed Past the New York Times,โย Alternet, January 7, 2016.ย Archived May 17, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6hZz1hus4
- 40โConsideration of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change effects in NEPA Reviews,โ Frontiers of Freedom, March 29, 2015. Archived October 18,ย 2015.ย
- 41Taylor Smith. โFrontiers of Freedom Backs Coalition Supporting Swift Repeal of the Renewable Fuel Standard,โย Somewhat Reasonabileย (Heartland Institute Blog), October 1, 2013. Archived May 17, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6hZvQZiIP
- 42โCoalition Letter Opposing the Renewable Fuel Standard,โ Frontiers of Freedom, September 27, 2014. Archived May 17, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6hZvv4r51
- 43“Seventh International Conference on Climate Change: Sponsored by the Heartland Institute” (PDF), the Heartland Institute. Archived August 15,ย 2015.
- 44โA Closer Look at Heartland’s ICCC7 Denial-a-Palooza Speakers and Sponsors,โย DeSmog, May 23,ย 2012.ย
- 45โCo-Sponsors,โ Third International Conference on Climate Change. Archived July 14,ย 2010.
- 46โHeartland Institute’s 2009 Climate Conference in New York: funding history of the sponsors,โย DeSmog.
- 47โDurbin, Hagel say global warming a national security threat,โย OneNewsNow, April 12, 2007. Archived May 17, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6hZuZ1m6P
- 48โDurbin, Hagel say global warming a national security threat,โย OneNewsNow, April 12, 2007. Archived May 17, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6hZuZ1m6P
- 49โDurbin, Hagel say global warming a national security threat,โย OneNewsNow, April 12, 2007. Archived May 17, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6hZuZ1m6P
- 50Cindy Baxter. โExxon Knew Climate Change Was Coming, but What Matters Is What Exxon Did,โ Greenpeace USA, November 12, 2015. Archived May 17, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6hZwkzyNw
- 51Amy Lieberman and Susanne Rust. โWhile denying climate change in Washington, Big Oil braced for a hotter planet,โย Portland Press Herald, January 11, 2016.ย Archived May 17, 2016. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6ha0EYRzD
- 52Fred L. Smith Jr. โJoint Letter To President Bush On The EPA’s Climate Action Report,โ Competitive Enterprise Institute, June 7, 2002. Archived October 18, 2015. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6cMapDVLb
- 53Fred L. Smith Jr. โJoint Letter To President Bush On The EPA’s Climate Action Report,โ Competitive Enterprise Institute, June 7, 2002. Archived October 18, 2015. WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6cMapDVLb
- 54โExperts Discuss Why United States Should Withdraw Its Signature From Kyoto; Whatever Happened To Global Warming Anyway?โย U.S. Newswire, May 14, 2002. Archived October 19,ย 2002.
- 55โCountdown to Kyoto: The Consequences of Mandatory CO2 Emission Reductions,โ Monash University. Archived August 6,ย 1997.
- 56โCountdown to Kyotoโ an International Conference on The Consequences of Mandatory Global CO2 Emission Reductions: Remarks by United States Senator Chuck Hagelโ (PDF), Retrieved from APEC.org.au.ย Archived .pdfย on file atย DeSmog.
- 57โContact Us,โ Frontiers of Freedom. Archived June 8, 2016.ย WebCite URL:ย http://www.webcitation.org/6i6a2OGXX
- 58Cooler Heads Coalition homepage (globalwarming.org). Archived October 18,ย 2015.