Independence Institute

Background

The Independence Institute is a libertarian think tank based in Denver, Colorado with a stated mission “to empower individuals and to educate citizens, legislators and opinion makers about public policies that enhance personal and economic freedom.¹“About II,” Independence Institute. Archived September 12, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/JG90X

Former Colorado state senator John Andrews (R), who previously worked as presidential speechwriter for Richard Nixon and chairman of the State Policy Network, founded the Independence Institute in 1985.²“Independence Institute,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Institute  (Need alternate citation to Wiki.)

The organization is the Colorado affiliate member of the State Policy Network.³“Independence Institute,” State Policy Network. Archived September 12, 2018. Archive URL:  https://archive.fo/StEYu

Koch Ties

According to Greenpeace, the Independence Institute received at least $141,000 in donations from Koch foundations between 2000 and 2006.

According to an archive of its website, the Independence Institute previously offered a summer internship program via the Charles G. Koch Summer Fellow Program, administered by the Institute for Humane Studies and the State Policy Network.⁴“The Independence Institute’s Future Leaders Program,” Independence Institute. Archived April 24, 2013. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/cxIn2

Stance on Climate Change

July 2016

A video clip from July 2016 features the Independence Institute’s Jon Caldara and Simon Lomax discussing climate investigations initiated by several state attorneys general. Caldara and Lomax mock this accountability tactic and misleadingly portray climate change as an issue up for debate, rather than scientific reality.⁵“You Can Be Sued For Having the ‘Wrong’ Opinion on Climate Change?!” YouTube video uploaded by user “IITV”, July 11, 2016. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSMog.

December 2012

The Institute’s Energy & Environmental Policy program posted a piece in December 2012 titled “Fossil fuel use protects us from climate-related risks”:⁶“Fossil Fuel Use Protects Us From Climate-Related Risk,” Independence Institute, December 21, 2012. Archive URL: http://archive.is/VeVtV

“Thanks to the fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, and farm machinery enabled by fossil fuels, increased global food production has made droughts less deadly.  Where extreme weather leaves people hungry and injured, fossil-fuel based transportation enables fast delivery of food, medical supplies, and disaster response units,” the piece claimed.

April 30, 2012

Another piece claims that wind farms contribute to global warming. The piece presents a tone of skepticism towards climate change while attacking one form of renewable energy.⁷“Green Energy Causes…Warming?” Independence Institute, April 30, 2012. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL:  https://archive.fo/ffXW1

February 2008

The Independence institute published a February 2008 report criticizing Colorado’s Climate Change Action Plan claims that programs aimed at GHG emissions reductions would be too expensive and that the plan’s cost-savings estimates are flawed.

The report also slammed Colorado’s governor for “buying into the ‘indisputable science’ side of the global warming discussion,” and for unveiling the Climate Action Plan with “alarming rhetoric.”⁸Benjamin Powell. “The Faulty Economics of Colorado’s Climate Change Action Plan: A Peer Review,” Independence Institute, February 2008. Retrieved from Scribd. Archive URL: http://archive.is/bqqiZ

September 26, 2000

An Independence Institute paper titled “If You Can’t Stand the Heat…Don’t Blame Global Warming,” offers a misleading take on climate science that dismisses the risk and paints the concept as mere “theory.”⁹Ron Bain. “If You Can’t Stand the Heat…Don’t Blame Global Warming,” Independence Institute, September 26, 2000. Retrieved from Scribd. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/OClRm

Funding

The Independence Institute does not, and is not required to, disclose its donors. The following is based on data compiled by the Conservative Transparency Project combined with information available from publicly available 990 forms.¹⁰“Independence Institute,” Conservative Transparency. Data retrieved September 12, 2018.

See the attached spreadsheet for details on the Independence Institute’s funding by year (.xlsx).

Donor	Total
Adolph Coors Foundation	$2,993,403
Donors Capital Fund	$1,781,400
The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation	$1,475,000
National Rifle Association Foundation	$1,050,125
DonorsTrust	$966,049
Castle Rock Foundation	$760,000
Jaquelin Hume Foundation	$577,911
Walton Family Foundation	$515,000
William H. Donner Foundation	$353,000
The Roe Foundation	$352,500
State Policy Network	$314,463
Schwab Charitable Fund	$304,675
National Christian Charitable Foundation	$280,500
Ruth & Lovett Peters Foundation	$152,000
JM Foundation	$95,000
Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation	$75,000
David H. Koch Charitable Foundation	$50,000
Pew Charitable Trusts	$40,000
National Philanthropic Trust	$25,000
Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation	$16,000
Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity	$6,750
Windway Foundation	$5,000
Center to Protect Patient Rights	$5,000
Dunn’s Foundation for the Advancement of Right Thinking	$5,000
American Encore	$5,000
Friedman Foundation For Educational Choice	$1,000
Tepper Family Foundation	$700
Grand Total	$12,205,477

NRA Funding*

The Progressive reported in 2014 that the Independent Institute had received over $1.42 million including about $175,000 a year over eight years from the NRA.¹¹Frank Smyth. “The Times Has Finally (Quitely) Outed an NRA_Funded ‘Independent’ Scholar,” The Progressive, April 23, 2014. Archived April 24, 2014.

Partial List of 1985-1990 Funders

According to a 1991 report by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, the Independence Institute was funded in part by the following corporations, organizations, and foundations from 1985 to 1990:¹²“The Latest Attacks on Oil and Gas,” YouTube video uploaded by user “IITV”, February 27, 2018. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmH65NuWVgM

Corporations & Organizations

• Amex Corp.
• American Furniture Warehouse
• Arapahoe Community College
• Arco Coal
• Automated Business Services
• Bailey Companies
• Ball Corp.
• Benson Mineral Group
• Caim Companies
• Calcon Constructors
• Captiva Corp.
• Celtech Corp.
• Chevron Oil
• Ciruli Associates
• Colorado Association of Commerce & Industry
• Colorado Association of School Executives
• Colorado Bar Association
• Colorado Interstate Gas Co.
• Colorado National Bankshares, Inc.
• Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce
• Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph
• Columbine Venture Fund, Ltd.
• Cooley Gravel Company
• Coopers & Lybrand
• Custom Envelope Corp.
• David, Graham & Stubbs
• Deloitte Haskins & Sells
• Denver Technological Center
• Denver West, Inc.
• Dixon Paper
• DTM Products
• Duncan Cattle Company
• Embassy Suites Hotel
• Equity Syndication
• Flatiron Companies
• D.E. Frey and Co.
• Frontier Oil and Refining
• G.E. Johnson Construction
• General Motors
• Gerald Phipps Inc.
• Great Southwest Construction Co.
• Greater Denver Chamber of Commerce
• Hewlett Packard
• High Valley Group
• Home Builders Association of Metro Denver
• Hyatt Regency Denver
• Ideal Basic Industries
• Jostens Inc.
• Kelmore Association
• Keystone Resort Inc.
• King Soopers
• Koelbel and Co.
• Louisiana Pacific Corp.
• Lucas Oil and Gas
• Martin Marietta
• Marriott Hotels
• Mobil Oil Corp.
• Mountain States Employers Council
• North Central Life Insurance Co.
• Oklahoma Publishing
• One Source Management
• Peat Marwick Main & Co.
• Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Denver
• Phelps, Inc.
• Gerald Phipps Inc.
• [Potential Inc.] (illeg.)
• Presto Print
• Public Service Co. of Colorado
• The Pueblo Chieftain
• Ralston Purina Co.
• Ready-Mixed Concrete
• Ridgewood Realty
• Robinson Dairy
• Roche Constructors
• Rocky Mountain Oil and Gas Association
• Rocky Mountain Orthodontics
• Saunders Construction
• Shuck Corp.
• Security Life of Denver
• Step Thirteen
• Stock Imagery Inc.
• Storage Technology
• True Oil
• United Banks of Colorado, Inc.
• United Bank of Denver
• U.S. West Communications
• Vail Association
• Vessels Oil and Gas Co.
• Welbourne Co.
• Woodford Manufacturing

Foundations

• Amoco Foundation
• Anschutz Foundation
• Atlas Foundation
• Howard W. Callaway Foundation
• Adolph Coors Foundation
• Dobbins Foundation
• El Pomar Foundation
• Farley Foundation
• Garvey Kansas Foundation
• Gates Foundation
• G.D. Searle Charitable Trust
• Hawkins Foundation
• JM Foundation
• [Mon Foundation] (illeg.)
• Powell Family Foundation
• Rawlings Foundation
• Ruth and Vernon Taylor Foundation
• White Foundation

Koch Funding

According to Greenpeace,¹³“Independence Institute,” Greenpeace. Accessed September 12, 2018. the Independence Institute received $141,000 in donations from Koch foundations between 2000 and 2006. This includes:

• 2000: $50,000 from David H. Koch Charitable Foundation
• 2003: $6000 from Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation
• 2005: $56,661 from Charles Koch Foundation; $10,000 from Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation
• 2006: $18,339 from Charles Koch Foundation

Fundraising Sponsors

* Energy Policy Network is listed as a sponsor of the Independence Institute’s fundraising “Founders’ Night” dinners (2016, 2017). EPN appears to be a coal industry front group. Its website promotes misleading “facts” about coal and includes a cartoonish coal mascot “Lumpy” at the bottom of the homepage.¹⁴Energy Policy Network homepage, accessed September 12, 2018.

Other Founders’ Night sponsors with fossil fuel industry ties include:

• Colorado Mining Association (coal trade group), sponsored in 2016, 2017;
• Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development (pro-fracking organization), sponsored in 2016;
• Bill Barrett Corporation (Denver-based petroleum company now called HighPoint Resources), sponsored in 2017;
• and Extraction Oil & Gas and Noble Energy (both oil & gas companies) in 2018.

            2016 Sponsors:¹⁵“Founders’ Night 2016,” Independence Institute. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/W1YW3

• Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development – Champion Sponsor: $5,000
• Energy Policy Network – Inquiring Sponsor: $2,500
• Colorado Mining Association – Inquiring Sponsor: $2,500

            2017 Sponsors:¹⁶“Founders’ Night Dinner 2017,” Independence Institute. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/k9F0D

• Bill Barrett Corporation – Champion Sponsor: $5,000
• Colorado Mining Association – Inquiring Sponsor: $2,500
• Energy Policy Network – Inquiring Sponsor: $2,500

            2018 Sponsors:¹⁷“Founders’ Night 2018,” Independence Institute. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/LwWmk

• Extraction Oil & Gas – Champion Sponsor: $5,000
• Noble Energy – Champion Sponsor: $5,000; note that Wells Ranch donated $50,000 as a Flagship Sponsor and has partnered with Noble, opening its property to oil and gas production

990 Forms

Key People

• Jon Caldara — President
• Amy Oliver Cooke — Executive vice president and director of the Energy and Environmental Policy Center

In 2016, Cooke was named to President Trump’s EPA Transition Team. She has worked in energy policy since 2010. According to her bio on the Independence Institute’s website, she “is famous for her provocative messaging like ‘Mothers In Love with Fracking’ and ‘I’m an energy feminist because I’m pro-choice in energy sources,’ which the eco-left called ‘hands down the worst kind of feminism.’”¹⁸“Amy Oliver Cooke,” Independence Institute. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/FIa99

• Michael Sandoval — Energy policy associate analyst

Michael Sandoval is a contract employee who also works as managing editor for Western Wire, which is “project of Western Energy Alliance, a non-profit regional oil and natural gas association based in Denver, Colorado, and active across 13 states.”¹⁹“About Us,” Western Wire. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/mkOOX

Sandoval previously worked as an investigative reporter for the Heritage Foundation covering “green energy issues” (criticizing renewable energy), and is a 2013 graduate of the Koch Associate Program.²⁰“Michael Sandoval,” Independence Institute. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/l15KB

Staff

Name

2003

2004

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Description

David Kopel

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Research Director and Second Amendment Project Director

Linda Gorman

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Health Care Policy Center Director

Pam Benigno

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Education Policy Center Director

Jon Caldara

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

President

Amy Oliver Cooke

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Executive Vice President and Director of the Energy and Environmental Policy Center

Dennis Polhill

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Public Infrastructure and Colorado Term Limits

Justin Longo

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Communications/Creative Lab/Complete Colorado

Mike Krause

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Justice Policy

Paul Prentice

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Senior Fellow, Fiscal Policy Center

Rob Natelson

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Constitutional Jurisprudence

Michael Sandoval

Y

Y

Y

Y

Associate Policy Analyst

Damon Sasso

Y

Y

Y

Vice President, Operations and Creative Lab

Ross Izard

Y

Y

Y

Senior Fellow, K-12 Education Policy

Shari Hanrahan

Y

Y

Y

Director of Investor Opportunities

Sherrie Peif

Y

Y

Y

Education Reporter

Tracy Kimball Smith

Y

Y

Y

Creative Lab

Randal O’Toole

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Transportation Policy Center Director

Kathleen Chandler

Y

Y

Project Coordinator, Local Government Project

Megan Polston

Y

Y

Administrative Assistant

Shayne Madsen

Y

Y

Director, Political Law Center

Todd Lubas

Y

Y

Director of Strategic Partnerships

Connan Houser

Y

K-12 Education Research Associate

James Lutack

Y

Donor Relations Manager

Rachael Kaiser

Y

School Choice for Kids Database Manager

Mary Macfarlane

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Operations

Todd Shepherd

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Investigative Reporter

Cherish Schaffer

Y

Y

Y

Special Projects

Angelica Malik

Y

Development Manager

Erick Valencia

Y

Outreach and Communications Coordinator, Education Policy Center

Simon Lomax

Y

Associate Energy Policy Analyst

Ben DeGrow

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Senior Policy Analyst, Education Policy Center

Marya DeGrow

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Research Associate, Education Policy Center

Barry Fagin

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Technology Policy

Barry Poulson

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Economic Policy

Brian Schwartz

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Research Associate, Health Care Policy Center

Fred Holden

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Tax and Fiscal Policy

J. Craig Green

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Senior Fellow, Water Policy

Jay Ambrose

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Contributing Columnist

Joanne D. Eisen

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Senior Fellow, Criminal Justice

Julie Mallon

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Vice President of Development

Karen Zuppa

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Accountant

Krista Kafer

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Senior Fellow, Education Policy Center

Mark Hillman

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Senior Fellow, Fiscal Policy Center

Paul Gallant

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Criminal Justice

Raaki Garcia-Ulam

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Hispanic outreach coordinator, School Choice for Kids

Tracy Smith

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Graphic Designer

Kait Lochner

Y

Y

Y

Assistant to the Vice President of Operations

Susan Evans

Y

Y

Y

Director of Major Gifts

William Yeatman

Y

Y

Y

Policy Anaylst, Energy Policy Center

Penn Pfiffner

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Senior Fellow, Fiscal Policy Center

Cherish Shaffer

Y

Intern Coordinator

Christina “CJ” James Buchanan

Y

Development

Debi Brazzale

Y

Y

Y

Capitol Reporter

Habtamu Dugo

Y

Y

Y

Senior Fellow, Civil Rights

Donovan Schafer

Y

Research Associate, Energy Policy Center

Nancy Miller

Y

Y

Y

Director of Publications

Jessica Corry

Y

Y

Director of the Campus Accountability Project and Property Rights Project

Kay Cullar

Y

Y

Office Manager

Jocelyn Armstrong

Y

IT and Communications Director

Jessica Peck

Y

Director, Campus Accountability Project

Kathleen Calongne

Y

Administrative Assistant to the Center for the American Dream

Anne McIntyre

Y

Volunteer and Ancient Factotum

Jennifer Mamich

Y

Director of Advancement & Operations

JoAnn Howe

Y

Advancement and Operations, Administrative Assistant

Matthew Edgar

Y

Manager of Technical Operations/Web Manager

Terry Nowell

Y

Executive Assistant to the President

Board of Trustees²¹“Board of Trustees,” Independence Institute. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/j5fwQ

Name	2016	2017	2018
Catherine Shopneck	Y	Y	Y
Debbie Donner		Y	Y
Jeff Coors	Y	Y	Y
Joe Ignat	Y
Jon Caldara	Y	Y	Y
Joseph Smith	Y	Y	Y
Katherine Whitcomb	Y	Y	Y
Mike McCarty	Y	Y	Y

Actions

March 24, 2020

The Coalition of Ratepayers, a spin-off of the Independence Institute formed to contest the closure of coal-fired plants by Colorado utility Xcel Energy, received money for its efforts from another front group funded by the coal industry, according to public documents.²²Mark Jaffe. “Wyoming coal interests funneled money, experts to infuence Colorado PUC decision on closing parts of Pueblo plant,” The Colorado Sun, March 24, 2020. Archived April 6, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/ySF2M

The Colorado Sun reported that the Energy Policy Network, funded by companies including Peabody Energy and Cloud Peak Energy as well as Wyoming state government, provided the Coalition of Ratepayers $45,000. EPN also provided “legal and technical experts” to file comments with and testify before the Colorado Public Utilities Commission opposing the closure of two power plants at Comanche Station in Pueblo, Colorado. The documents were obtained by the nonprofit Energy and Policy Institute via Freedom of Information Act request.²³Mark Jaffe. “Wyoming coal interests funneled money, experts to infuence Colorado PUC decision on closing parts of Pueblo plant,” The Colorado Sun, March 24, 2020. Archived April 6, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/ySF2M

Charles Griffey, an expert witness provided by EPN but appearing before the PUC on behalf of the Coalition of Ratepayers, contested utility estimates of more than $200 million in savings provided customers by closing the plants, the Sun reported. While the PUC adopted some of the Coalition’s recommendations, such as a cost plan, the plants are still slated to close by 2026.²⁴Mark Jaffe. “Wyoming coal interests funneled money, experts to infuence Colorado PUC decision on closing parts of Pueblo plant,” The Colorado Sun, March 24, 2020. Archived April 6, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/ySF2M

March 23, 2020

As reported at DeSmog, Life:Powered sent a letter to Congress critical of the COVID-19 stimulus package for including “tax incentives and spending for unreliable ‘green’ energy
programs.”²⁵Dana Drugmand. “Under Cover of Pandemic, Fossil Fuel Interests Unleash Lobbying Frenzy,” DeSmog, April 2, 2020. ²⁶Coronavirus Stimulus Letter, Life:Powered, March 23, 2020. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

The letter, to which the Center of the American Experiment is a signatory, concludes:²⁷Coronavirus Stimulus Letter, Life:Powered, March 23, 2020. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

“This is no time for political games. Climate change is not an immediate threat to humanity. Climate-related deaths have declined 98.9% in the last century, and humanity is growing more and more resilient thanks to the availability of affordable, reliable energy. On behalf of all Americans, we urge you to oppose any stimulus proposals that carve out special treatment for or bail out any energy companies and focus instead on stopping COVID-19.”²⁸Coronavirus Stimulus Letter, Life:Powered, March 23, 2020. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

The full list of signatories is below:²⁹Coronavirus Stimulus Letter, Life:Powered, March 23, 2020. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

Name	Title	Organization
Jason Isaac	Senior Manager & Distinguished Fellow	Life:Powered/Texas Public Policy Foundation
Myron Ebell	Director, Center for Energy and Environment	Competitive Enterprise Institute
Bette Grande	CEO	Roughrider Policy Center
Ellen Weaver	President & CEO	Palmetto Promise Institute
Isaac Orr	Policy Fellow	Center of the American Experiment
Bethany Marcum	Executive Director	Alaska Policy Forum
David T. Stevenson	Director, Center for Energy and Environment	Caesar Rodney Institute
Donald van der Vaart	Senior Fellow	John Locke Foundation
Jason Hayes	Director of Environmental Policy	Mackinac Center for Public Policy
John Droz, Jr.	Founder	Alliance for Wise Energy Decisions
George K. Rasley, Jr.	Managing Editor	ConservativeHQ.com
Becky Norton Dunlop	Former Secretary of Natural Resources	Commonwealth of Virginia
James L. Martin	Founder/Chairman	60 Plus Association
Saulius “Saul” Anuzis	President	60 Plus Association
Ken Blackwell	Senior Fellow	Family Research Council
Eunie Smith	President	Eagle Forum
Jenny Beth Martin	Honorary Chairman	Tea Party Patriots Action
Jon Caldara	President	Independence Institute
L. Brent Bozell, III	Founder and President	Media Research Center
Jason Pye	Vice President of Legislative Affairs	FreedomWorks
Jameson Taylor	Vice President for Policy	Mississippi Center for Public Policy
Carol Platt Liebau	President	Yankee Institute
Mike Stenhouse	CEO	Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity
Daniel Erspamer	CEO	Pelican Institute for Public Policy
Christian N. Braunlich	President	Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy
Todd Myers	Environmental Director	Washington Policy Center

2019

According to The Independence Institute’s Independent Inking publication, its E2P (Energy & Environmental Policy) opposes Senate Bill 181.  At the Western Conservative Summit, four Colorado Christian University students wore “MILF” — “Mothers In Love With Fracking” — shirts.³⁰Independent Thining, Fall 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

“At E2P, we pride ourselves on being fuel agnostics, but when legislators try to destroy an energy source and our economy with the swipe of a pen, we won’t be silent. Hence, why we brought our infamous MILF shirts to this summer’s Western Conservative Summit,” The Independent Institute wrote.³¹Independent Thining, Fall 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

“The men and women in the extraction and energy development industry are heroes! And these CCU students know it. Their mothers should be proud. We certainly are.”³²Independent Thining, Fall 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

May 9, 2019

The Independence Institute, represented by Amy Oliver Cooke, signed on to an open letter organized by the American Energy Alliance designed to fight against an electric vehicle tax credit.³³“Dear Senator Grassley, Senator Wyden, Representative Neal and Representative Brady:” May 9, 2019. Retrieved from The Daily Caller.

“The 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,” Thomas Pyle wrote in a statement, quoted at The Daily Caller. “There is no question that the electric vehicle tax credit distorts the auto market to no gain.”³⁴Christ White. “CONSERVATIVES WARN LAWMAKERS: TESLA’S TAX CREDITS ‘OVERWHELMINGLY BENEFIT THE RICH’,”The Daily Caller, May 9, 2019. Archived May 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/qzvF3

According to Pyle and others who signed the letter, electric vehicle tax credits “overwhelmingly benefit the rich.” DeSmog’s Koch vs. Clean project has systematically debunked this, among other well-rehearsed talking points and misinformation put forward by industry about electric vehicles.³⁵Christ White. “CONSERVATIVES WARN LAWMAKERS: TESLA’S TAX CREDITS ‘OVERWHELMINGLY BENEFIT THE RICH’,”The Daily Caller, May 9, 2019. Archived May 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL: 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 “dark money” groups DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund. 

August 30, 2018

A blog piece on the Institute’s website rails against Xcel Energy’s Colorado Energy Plan recently approved by the Public Utilities Commission. The plan seeks to replace coal generation with wind and solar, halving carbon emissions and saving ratepayers $215 million. But the blog piece, written by a former coal executive at Xcel, argues that ratepayers will pay more under this plan.

The author claims any customer savings would be “several decades away” and points to coal jobs that would be lost. Contrary to these complaints, the economics are actually favorable to renewable energy. As an Xcel resource planning executive told Greentech Media, “In many areas, the incremental cost of renewable generation is currently less than the embedded cost of existing generation.” The author of the blog piece, Duane Richards, is a former Director of Coal for Xcel Energy.³⁶Duane Richards. “The Colorado Energy Plan: A proposal that benefits all but the consumer,” Independence Institute, August 30, 2018. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/Wev4w

This piece appears to be part of a new campaign started in 2018 to push back against Colorado and its largest utility Xcel Energy’s transition to clean energy. The “Coalition of Ratepayers” is an Independence Institute-led attack on the Colorado Energy Plan, though it presents itself as a “nonprofit” standing up for “small business and residential ratepayers that otherwise have no advocate and no voice.”³⁷“Coalition of Ratepayers,” Independence Institute. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/wisAO

Based on the Coalition’s PR materials, however, the group appears to be a front for dirty energy interests, particularly coal. A March 2018 op-ed in The Hill, for example, clearly presents the Coalition as a pro-coal sympathizer.

“Besides building out industrial wind and solar, the $2.5 billion CEP would retire prematurely 660 megawatts (enough to power roughly 660,000 homes) of relatively young, low-cost, highly-utilized, environmentally state-of-art coal-fueled power plants,” Amy Oliver Cooke, director of energy and environmental policy at the Independence Institute, writes. Further down in the op-ed, she floats the idea that the next Colorado governor could, perhaps, issue a call for “100 percent coal.”³⁸Amy Cooke. “Coloradans are taking on the state’s largest monopoly utility,” The Hill, March 7, 2018. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/x43xQ

April 2018

Independence Institute again celebrated Earth Day with a “Fossil Fuels Poster Contest,” with the theme of “Modern Life: Made Possible by Fossil Fuels.”

According to the contest description: “We want to highlight the work horses of the energy world — fossil fuels…The choice of energy sources and how they are utilized should come from the demands of an innovative and free market with fossil fuels, wind, and solar competing on an even playing field.”³⁹“Earth Day Fossil Fuels Poster Contest,” Independence Institute. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL:  https://archive.fo/l0khv

Independence Institute fails to mention that fossil fuels are heavily subsidized to the tune of billions of dollars annually, not to mention the external costs of dirty energy in terms of climate and health costs. The hypocrisy of the contest itself and the explanation behind it could not be clearer.

February 27, 2018

This video clip from “Devil’s Advocate with Jon Caldara” features Caldara discussing Boulder, Colorado’s plan to take legal action against oil and gas companies with Michael Sandoval. Caldara and Sandoval dismiss the climate damage that drives the climate liability lawsuits and trumpet the fossil fuel industry talking point that these suits are solely about lining the pockets of the plaintiff attorneys.

“But when you’re talking about damages I think we should focus on the damages that [plaintiffs’ attorneys] are expecting to get out of it, not the actual climate change damages that they’re claiming,” said Sandoval.⁴⁰“The Latest Attacks on Oil and Gas,” YouTube video uploaded by user “IITV”, February 27, 2018. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmH65NuWVgM

April 2017

The Independence Institute held an “Earth Day Fossil Fuels Art Contest” for the purpose of showcasing “the awesomeness of fossil fuels.” The blatant promotion of fossil fuels fittingly included a fossil fuel reward as its prize – a $100 gasoline gift card.

“It’s time to include fossil fuels in the Earth Day celebration,” Amy Oliver Cooke, executive vice president and director of the Independence Institute’s Energy Policy Center, told Bloomberg.

As the Bloomberg article points out, Independence Institute has financial ties to fossil fuel interests like Peabody Energy and Koch Industries, and previous donors include entities like Mobil Oil Corp.⁴¹Ari Natter. “Earth Day Art Contest Showcases ‘Awesomeness’ of Fossil Fuels,” Bloomberg, April 13, 2017.

March 16, 2017

The Institute hosted an event titled “Inside President Trump’s EPA Transition Team.” The luncheon event featured notable climate denier Myron Ebell of the Competitive Enterprise Institute talking about the new direction of the EPA.

The event description described Ebell as an “EPA Transition Team Leader and ‘climate contrarian.’”⁴²“Inside Trump’s EPA Transition Team,” Independence Institute.

Contact & Address

According to the contact info on its website, as of September 2018, The Independence Institute is located in the “Uptown” neighborhood in Denver, at the corner of 16th Avenue and Clarkson Street.⁴³“Contact,” Independence Institute. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/R16yE

727 E. 16th Ave.
Denver, CO 80203

Phone:
Main phone line: 303-279-6536
Fax: 303-279-4176
Event RSVP line: 303-279-6536 X102

E-mail:
Main and Event E-mail: [email protected]
Donations: [email protected]
Media/Publications: [email protected]

Related Organizations

• State Policy Network – Member

Social Media

• @i2idotorg on Twitter.
• “Independence Institute” on Facebook.
• “Independence Institute” on LinkedIn.

Other Resources

Resources

• 1
  “About II,” Independence Institute. Archived September 12, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/JG90X
• 2
  “Independence Institute,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Institute  (Need alternate citation to Wiki.)
• 3
  “Independence Institute,” State Policy Network. Archived September 12, 2018. Archive URL:  https://archive.fo/StEYu
• 4
  “The Independence Institute’s Future Leaders Program,” Independence Institute. Archived April 24, 2013. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/cxIn2
• 5
  “You Can Be Sued For Having the ‘Wrong’ Opinion on Climate Change?!” YouTube video uploaded by user “IITV”, July 11, 2016. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSMog.
• 6
  “Fossil Fuel Use Protects Us From Climate-Related Risk,” Independence Institute, December 21, 2012. Archive URL: http://archive.is/VeVtV
• 7
  “Green Energy Causes…Warming?” Independence Institute, April 30, 2012. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL:  https://archive.fo/ffXW1
• 8
  Benjamin Powell. “The Faulty Economics of Colorado’s Climate Change Action Plan: A Peer Review,” Independence Institute, February 2008. Retrieved from Scribd. Archive URL: http://archive.is/bqqiZ
• 9
  Ron Bain. “If You Can’t Stand the Heat…Don’t Blame Global Warming,” Independence Institute, September 26, 2000. Retrieved from Scribd. Archive URL: http://archive.fo/OClRm
• 10
  “Independence Institute,” Conservative Transparency. Data retrieved September 12, 2018.
• 11
  Frank Smyth. “The Times Has Finally (Quitely) Outed an NRA_Funded ‘Independent’ Scholar,” The Progressive, April 23, 2014. Archived April 24, 2014.
• 12
  “The Latest Attacks on Oil and Gas,” YouTube video uploaded by user “IITV”, February 27, 2018. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmH65NuWVgM
• 13
  “Independence Institute,” Greenpeace. Accessed September 12, 2018.
• 14
  Energy Policy Network homepage, accessed September 12, 2018.
• 15
  “Founders’ Night 2016,” Independence Institute. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/W1YW3
• 16
  “Founders’ Night Dinner 2017,” Independence Institute. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/k9F0D
• 17
  “Founders’ Night 2018,” Independence Institute. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/LwWmk
• 18
  “Amy Oliver Cooke,” Independence Institute. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/FIa99
• 19
  “About Us,” Western Wire. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/mkOOX
• 20
  “Michael Sandoval,” Independence Institute. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/l15KB
• 21
  “Board of Trustees,” Independence Institute. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/j5fwQ
• 22
  Mark Jaffe. “Wyoming coal interests funneled money, experts to infuence Colorado PUC decision on closing parts of Pueblo plant,” The Colorado Sun, March 24, 2020. Archived April 6, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/ySF2M
• 23
  Mark Jaffe. “Wyoming coal interests funneled money, experts to infuence Colorado PUC decision on closing parts of Pueblo plant,” The Colorado Sun, March 24, 2020. Archived April 6, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/ySF2M
• 24
  Mark Jaffe. “Wyoming coal interests funneled money, experts to infuence Colorado PUC decision on closing parts of Pueblo plant,” The Colorado Sun, March 24, 2020. Archived April 6, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/ySF2M
• 25
  Dana Drugmand. “Under Cover of Pandemic, Fossil Fuel Interests Unleash Lobbying Frenzy,” DeSmog, April 2, 2020.
• 26
  Coronavirus Stimulus Letter, Life:Powered, March 23, 2020. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
• 27
  Coronavirus Stimulus Letter, Life:Powered, March 23, 2020. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
• 28
  Coronavirus Stimulus Letter, Life:Powered, March 23, 2020. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
• 29
  Coronavirus Stimulus Letter, Life:Powered, March 23, 2020. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
• 30
  Independent Thining, Fall 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
• 31
  Independent Thining, Fall 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
• 32
  Independent Thining, Fall 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
• 33
  “Dear Senator Grassley, Senator Wyden, Representative Neal and Representative Brady:” May 9, 2019. Retrieved from The Daily Caller.
• 34
  Christ White. “CONSERVATIVES WARN LAWMAKERS: TESLA’S TAX CREDITS ‘OVERWHELMINGLY BENEFIT THE RICH’,”The Daily Caller, May 9, 2019. Archived May 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/qzvF3
• 35
  Christ White. “CONSERVATIVES WARN LAWMAKERS: TESLA’S TAX CREDITS ‘OVERWHELMINGLY BENEFIT THE RICH’,”The Daily Caller, May 9, 2019. Archived May 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/qzvF3
• 36
  Duane Richards. “The Colorado Energy Plan: A proposal that benefits all but the consumer,” Independence Institute, August 30, 2018. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/Wev4w
• 37
  “Coalition of Ratepayers,” Independence Institute. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/wisAO
• 38
  Amy Cooke. “Coloradans are taking on the state’s largest monopoly utility,” The Hill, March 7, 2018. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/x43xQ
• 39
  “Earth Day Fossil Fuels Poster Contest,” Independence Institute. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL:  https://archive.fo/l0khv
• 40
  “The Latest Attacks on Oil and Gas,” YouTube video uploaded by user “IITV”, February 27, 2018. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmH65NuWVgM
• 41
  Ari Natter. “Earth Day Art Contest Showcases ‘Awesomeness’ of Fossil Fuels,” Bloomberg, April 13, 2017.
• 42
  “Inside Trump’s EPA Transition Team,” Independence Institute.
• 43
  “Contact,” Independence Institute. Archived September 13, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/R16yE