Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA)

Background

The Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), founded in 1907, describes itself as the oldest petroleum trade association in the United States. WSPA maintains headquarters in Sacramento, California with additional offices across the western states.

Membership of WSPA includes large petroleum and energy companies such as Chevron, BP, ConocoPhillips, Exxon, Shell, and numerous others.¹“About,” WSPA. Archived September 28, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/RtC49

WSPA President Catherine Reheis-Boyd is former chair of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative Blue Ribbon Task Force designed to create “marine protected areas in Southern California.” Counterpunch wrote these areas, created under her leadership, “fail to protect the ocean from fracking, offshore oil drilling, oil spills, pollution, military testing, energy projects and all human impacts on the ocean other than sustainable fishing and gathering.”²Dan Bacher. “Western States Petroleum Association Continues to Top CA Lobbying Expenses,” CounterPunch, August 19, 2016. Archived September 28, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/o3Q6R

While WSPA‘s official climate policy statement supports “market mechanisms” such as a cap-and-trade program, the organization has fought against bills designed to reduce GHG emissions through a cap and trade system. For example, leaked documents revealed the WSPA‘s plan to create a network of “citizen activist” groups combatting California’s AB 32 Low Carbon Fuel Standards (LCFS) in California, Oregon and Washington State.³Bradford Wieners. “Leaked: The Oil Lobby’s Conspiracy to Kill Off California’s Climate Law,” Bloomberg Businessweek, November 25, 2014. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

WSPA projects have included the California Drivers Alliance, a group claiming to represent the “voice of consumers, farmers, small businesses and fuel suppliers in California”⁴Homepage, California Driver’s Alliance. Archived February 9, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/ugOkl while focusing on opposing Senate Bill 350, which would reduce petroleum use in California by 50% while increasing renewables.⁵“About,” California Driver’s Alliance, Archived January 1, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/npn7t The group’s website, Californiadriversalliance.org, appears to have ceased operating in the summer of 2017.⁶“About,” California Drivers Alliance. Archived January 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/npn7t ⁷“http://www.californiadriversalliance.org/” Internet Wayback Machine snapshot.

The independent UK-based non-profit InfluenceMap gives the WSPA a poor, or “F” score on climate policy, noting it has specifically lobbyied against policy in U.S state legislatures in California, Oregon, and Washington.⁸“Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA),” InfluenceMap.org. Archived September 30, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/ZsPTd

Stance on Climate Change

2017

According to its website, WSPA supports cap-and-trade programs while opposing any direct regulations of greenhouse gas emissions:⁹“Climate Change,” WSPA. Archived September 29, 2017. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/q2fWY

“WSPA supports market mechanisms such as a well-designed cap-and-trade program as a cost-effective approach to reducing emissions and achieving stringent greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals […]

WSPA opposes direct command-and-control regulations which have a tendency to drive up compliance costs while having less environmental benefit.”

Notably, while WSPA has publicly presented this position, leaked documents reported by Bloomberg show they have also rallied to fight against California’s AB 32 cap and trade system.¹⁰Bradford Wieners. “Leaked: The Oil Lobby’s Conspiracy to Kill Off California’s Climate Law,” Bloomberg Businessweek, November 25, 2014. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

Funding

WSPA‘s membership has included some of the largest oil, pipeline, and energy companies in the United States such as BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Marathon Oil, Shell, Valero and numerous others. View all member companies below.

990 Forms

Lobbying

WSPA has been described as the most powerful corporate lobbying group in Sacramento, spending over $14 million between January 2015 and August 2016.¹¹Dan Bacher. “Western States Petroleum Association Continues to Top CA Lobbying Expenses,” CounterPunch, August 19, 2016. Archived September 28, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/o3Q6R

The WSPA was at the top of the list of California lobbying groups in 2017, spending almost $1.4 million in the first quarter.¹²Dan Bacher. “Western States Petroleum Association Leads Lobbying Spending This Year,” Daily KOS, May 15, 2017. Archived September 28, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/zutdN

The Sacramento Bee noted that a majority of the WSPA‘s lobbying expenditures were “under a catch-all ‘other’ category that requires no detailed disclosure showing who benefited or how the money was spent.”¹³“Oil industry doubled spending on lobbying in California last year,” The Sacramento Bee, February 4, 2015. Archived September 29, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/sWFlK

Below is a summary of Lobbying data, based on disclosures at the California Secretary of State’s website:¹⁴“Lobbying Activity: WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION,” California Secretary of State Alex Padilla. Accessed September 29, 2017.

Session	Total Lobbying
2015-2016	$18,718,663
2013-2014	$13,553,943
2007-2008	$10,587,795
2011-2012	$9,972,581
2009-2010	$9,345,305
2005-2006	$6,651,219
2003-2004	$5,400,673
2001-2002	$5,160,449
2017-2018	$3,916,353
1999-2000	$1,899,179
Grand Total	$95,124,367

According to a sample 2018 lobbing report filed at California Secretary of State, WSPA‘s lobbying focus from January to April 2018 included bills AB378 and implementation of AB398, the former regarding the social cost of carbon emissions due to greenhouse gases and the latter which added statements to the Health and Safety Code including that “Global warming poses a serious threat to the economic well-being, public health, natural resources, and the environment of California.” Among numerous other bills, WSPA also lobbied on the low carbon fuel standard rulemaking and cap and trade regulations.¹⁵Western States Petroleum Association Form 635 for January 1 2018 to April 31, 2018. Retrieved from California Secretary of State.

Key People

Name

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Description

Kevin Buchan

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Manager, Bay Area Region

Suzanne Noble

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Director, Production Operations

Jodie Muller

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Vice President of Government & External Affairs

Steve Slakey

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Chief Financial Officer

Catherine Reheis-Boyd

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

President

William Ferrari

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Director, Information Technology

Patty Senecal

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Director, Southern California Operations

Kris Hollinger

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Manager, Finance and Accounting

Jessica Spiegel

Y

Y

Y

Y

Manager, Northwest Climate Change & Legislative Policy

Tiffany Roberts

Y

Y

Y

Y

Director, Regulatory & Legislative Policy

Tom Umenhofer

Y

Y

Y

Y

Vice President, Operations

Bob Brown

Y

Y

Y

Director, Bay Area Operations

Bob Poole

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Director, Production State & Coastal Issues

Bridget McCann

Y

Y

Manager, Southern California Region

Julie Berge

Y

Y

Manager, Public Relations

Kara Siepmann

Y

Y

Manager, Media Relations

Kevin Slagle

Y

Y

Vice President, Strategic Communications

Oyango Snell

Y

Y

General Counsel

Argelia León

Y

Manager, Strategic Partnerships

Luis Sanchez

Y

Manager, California Policy Advocate

Margo Parks

Y

Manager, California Policy Advocate

Sophie Ellinghouse

Y

Associate Counsel

Frank Holmes

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Director, Northwest Operations

Jenifer Pitcher

Y

Y

Y

Y

Senior Coordinator, San Joaquin Valley Region

Brenna Butler Garcia

Y

Y

Manager, Association Marketing & Constituencies Development

Henry T. Perea

Y

Senior Vice President, Policy and Strategic

Barbara Chichester

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Senior Analyst, Finance and Accounting

Elaine Delgadillo

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Administrative Assistant, South Coast Region and Associates

Gina Grey

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Vice President, Strategic Policy, Fuels, Southwest and Hawaii Regions

Joey Martinelli

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Executive Assistant, Headquarters

Lisa Venegas

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Executive Assistant, Government Affairs and Leadership

Michael D. Wang

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Manager, Cross Regional Issues and Legal Affairs

Sherlee Bailey

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Administrative Assistant and SJV External Affairs Assistant

Tupper Hull

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Vice President, Strategic Communications

Marti Tennant

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Administrative Assistant, Northwest Region

Guy Bjerke

Y

Y

Y

Y

Manager, Bay Area Region and State Safety Issues

Lisa Hom

Y

Y

Y

Administrative Assistant, Headquarters

Nick Ortiz

Y

Y

Y

Manager, Production Regions and Property Tax Issues

Sandra Burkhart

Y

Y

Y

Senior Coordinator, Coastal Region, State Marine and Waste Issues

Joe Sparano

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Executive Advisor to the Chairman of the Board

Michaeleen Mason

Y

Y

Y

Director, Climate Change Policy

Steve Schuyler

Y

Y

Senior Coordinator, South Coast Region Environmental Marketing

Dennis Bolt

Y

Y

Y

Y

Manager, Bay Area Region

John Quirk

Y

Y

Y

Coordinator, Finance and Accounting

State Waste Issues

Y

Ronald Wilkniss

Y

Y

Senior Coordinator, South Coast Issues

Springer Chandler

Y

Y

Administrative Assistant

Steven Arita

Y

Y

Director of Operations and Cross Regional Issues

Jeffrey B. Wilson

Y

Manager, External Affairs and South Coast Advocacy

Board of Directors

The following is based on publicly available 990 forms:

Name

2004

2005

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Description

Catherine Reheis-Boyd

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Director

Suzanne Noble

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

VP Chief of Staff

Todd Stevens

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Director

Jodie Muller

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

VP Gov Affairs

Max Ocansey

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Director

Steve Slakey

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Officer

Frank Holmes

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Manager

Brant Fish

Y

Y

Y

Director

Dan Yoder

Y

Y

Y

Director

Jay Churchill

Y

Y

Y

Y

Director

Bob Allendorfer

Y

Y

Director

Christina Sistrunk

Y

Y

Chairman

David Sanders

Y

Y

Vice Chair

John McGinnis

Y

Y

Director

Keith Casey

Y

Y

Director

Bob Poole

Y

Jeff Dill

Y

Director

Tom Rizzo

Y

Director

Tom Umenhofer

Y

Manager

Michael Barr

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Director

Gina Grey

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

VP Strategic Pol

Michael Wang

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Manager-Cross Reg

R Tupper Hill

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Officer

Aamir Farid

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Director

Barry McMahan

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Director

Gaurdie Banister

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Director

Jeff Pitzer

Y

Y

Director

Lane Riggs

Y

Y

Director

Brian Coffman

Y

Director

Mike Kenney

Y

Director

Gary Yesavage

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Director

Alan J. Cabodi

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Director

Chris Chandler

Y

Director

Dan Romasko

Y

Director

Crystal Ashby

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Director

Bill Bodnar

Y

Y

Director

Jean Bernier

Y

Y

Director

Rand Swenson

Y

Y

Director

Joe Sparano

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Will Ferrari

Y

Y

Manager NW

Steve Rathweg

Y

Y

Y

Y

Lynn Westall

Y

Y

Y

Vice Chair

Doug Comeau

Y

Y

Thomas Moeller

Y

Y

Director

Larry Ziemba

Y

Y

Y

Director

Sal Viscontini

Y

Director

Tupper Hull

Y

Director of Communications

Thomas A. Markin

Y

Y

Y

Rich Marcogliese

Y

Y

Y

J.W. “Bill” Haywood

Y

Y

Y

Thomas C. Temple

Y

Y

Y

Bill Albrecht

Y

Paul Richmond

Y

Eugene J. Voiland

Y

Y

Ian Scoble

Y

Y

Ken Dillon

Y

Carmine Falcone

Y

John Allen

Y

Phillip Gobe

Y

William Hauschildt

Y

Actions

February 9, 2022

WSPA opposed legislation that would ban offshore drilling in California. WSPA spokesperson Kevin Slagle told the Los Angeles Times:¹⁶Phil Willon. “Huntington Beach oil spill inspires legislation to ban California offshore drilling,” Los Angeles Times, February 9, 2022. Archived November 7, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/nJm51

“Eliminating existing offshore production will lead to importing even more of the energy we need from foreign sources and putting California at significant risk for takings claims,” Slagle said.

September 26, 2020

Catharine Reheis Boyd, the president of the WSPA, wrote an article for the Sacramento Bee responding to an executive order signed by the Governor of California that would ban the sale of gas-only cars within 15 years to combat climate change.¹⁷Catharine Reheist-Boyd,” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s climate change orders reflect panic, will cost California families,” The Sacramento Bee, September 26, 2020. Archived October 8, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/OXMxL

The article stated, “when you completely surrender to panic, and dismiss the science and data that have long governed our approach to environmental and energy policy, it only does one thing: it sets California back, increases income inequality and damages an already fragile economy. The economy and our climate-centric environmental policies can work in harmony, but not with one-off executive orders that fail to meet the current reality.”

July 2017

WSPA president Catherine Reheis-Boyd discussed some of her group’s positions in an interview with Oregon Business. Some excerpts below:¹⁸Linda Baker. “‘Projections don’t match aspirational goals‘,” Oregon Business, July 25, 2017. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/c0bVM

On the renewable fuel standard (RFS)

“I hate the low carbon fuel standard. A low carbon fuel standard requires you to blend in gasoline a fuel that has a lower carbon intensity. Right now it’s ethanol. But as the standard ramps up, the low carbon fuel will be harder and harder to find. Because we haven’t cracked the nut. We can’t figure out what’s less carbon intensive than what we have. The minute you can’t get to the next increment — you’re going to pay more. The low carbon fuel standard is a regulation, and it’s not a regulation you can comply with.”¹⁹Linda Baker. “‘Projections don’t match aspirational goals‘,” Oregon Business, July 25, 2017. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/c0bVM

On cap and trade:

“We would support discussing a cap and trade. You can have a well-designed cap and trade and a poorly designed cap and trade. It could be designed worse than the low carbon fuel standard. If Oregon goes down the cap and trade route we hope they will take look at low carbon fuels standard. Because otherwise it is duplicative.”²⁰Linda Baker. “‘Projections don’t match aspirational goals‘,” Oregon Business, July 25, 2017. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/c0bVM

On a carbon tax:

“We have members in both camps: cap and trade and carbon tax. We won’t support both.”²¹Linda Baker. “‘Projections don’t match aspirational goals‘,” Oregon Business, July 25, 2017. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/c0bVM

January 10, 2017

WSPA President Catherine Reheis-Boyd released a statement on Governor Brown’s proposal of continued authorization of a cap-and-trade program in California beyond 2020. According to Reheis-Boyd, achieving GHG reductions targets set in 2016 for California “will be difficult and costly” while “achieving the reductions through a well-designed cap-and-trade program will minimize those costs.”²²“President’s Statement on Cap and Trade – Governor’s Proposal,” WSPA, January 10, 2017. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/9YzGn

“Where today’s proposal falls short is that it simply layers the cap-and-trade program on top of costly and counter-productive command-and-control measures, disregarding the increasingly important role of cost containment,” she said.²³“President’s Statement on Cap and Trade – Governor’s Proposal,” WSPA, January 10, 2017. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/9YzGn

September 16, 2016

WSPA released a statement suggesting methane emissions regulations proposed by California Air Resources Board (CARB) be extended by at least one year. WSPA also recommended annual as opposed to quarterly inspections of oil and gas production facilities.²⁴“WSPA Comments On Clean Air Rule,” WSPA, September 27, 2016. Archived September 29, 2017. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/87ni2

August 2015

WSPA released mailers and radio spots to fight against California bill SB 350 (De León-Leno), or the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act of 2015. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists’ (UCS) Adrienne Alvord, who described the WSPA‘s campaign as “one of the most extreme examples of fossil fuel-interest misinformation I’ve ever seen,” the bill was designed to increase California’s share of renewable energy sources to 50%, increase building energy efficiency 50%, and cut California’s usage of oil in half. The mailer was attributed to “California Drivers Alliance,” one of the WSPA‘s “many well-documented astroturf groups.”²⁵Adrienne Alvord. “WSPA Lies: Oil Companies Are At It Again… And California Is The Target,” Union of Concerned Scientists, August 19, 2015. Archived October 6, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/eQFmR

WSPA also co-signed a letter to members of the California State Senate to oppose the bill, calling it a “job killer” and claiming it would make Californian business less competitive.²⁶“SB 350 (DE LEON) CLEAN ENERGY AND POLLUTION REDUCTION ACT OF 2015 OPPOSE – JOB KILLER,” Amy Mmagu, California Chamber of Commerce et al, June 3, 2015. Retrieved from CapitolTrack.

East Bay Express reported the California Drivers Alliance campaign included “conspiracy theories of mostly false and misleading claims about SB 350, […] designed to scare voters and get them to contact the moderate Dems so that they’ll vote ‘no’ on the climate bill.”²⁷Robert Gammon. “California’s Missing Climate Hawk,” East Bay Express, September 2, 2015. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/f9WqX

California Senate leader Kevin de Leon accused the campaign of “fear-mongering,” The Los Angeles Times reported:²⁸Patrick McGreevy. “California Senate leader says oil industry ‘fear-mongering’ on SB 350,” The Los Angeles Times, August 19, 2015. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/NPPRv

“There is a major campaign of fear-mongering that is very visceral. That’s driven at an emotional level,” he said.²⁹Patrick McGreevy. “California Senate leader says oil industry ‘fear-mongering’ on SB 350,” The Los Angeles Times, August 19, 2015. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/NPPRv

The Sacramento Bee reported that WSPA‘s lobbying expenditures topped $6.7 million, more than double what it spent in the past two quarters, during the final section of the Legislature’s calendar. It was around this time that WSPA was actively fighting against SB 350 and running its ad campaign.³⁰Jeremy B. White. “Oil industry’s spending surged as it fought California climate bill,” The Sacramento Bee, November 2, 2015. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/OJFwI

April 17, 2015

WSPA signed on to a letter with other California business groups opposing the California Global Solutions act of 20016 (SB 32, Pavley). The letter claimed the bill, which would mandate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050, took “no consideration of the economic side effects.”³¹“SB 32 (PAVLEY) CALIFORNIA GLOBAL SOLUTIONS ACT OF 2006 SET FOR HEARING – APRIL 29, 2015  OPPOSE/JOB KILLER – AS AMENDED MARCH 16, 2015” (PDF), California Chamber of Commerce et al, April 17, 2015. Retrieved from CapitolTrack.

2014

The California Drivers Alliance launched a campaign titled “Stop the Hidden Gas Tax,” which warned motorists that gas prices could rise by as much as 76 cents per gallon when provisions under California’s climate law came into effect. UCS noted that, despite these claims, gas prices actually went down on January 1 due, in part, to other factors.³²Adrienne Alvord. “WSPA Lies: Oil Companies Are At It Again… And California Is The Target,” Union of Concerned Scientists, August 19, 2015. Archived October 6, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/eQFmR

November 11, 2014

A leaked PowerPoint presentation crafted by the WSPA, a copy which was obtained by Bloomberg Businessweek, revealed the group’s plans to throttle AB 32 (the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006) as well as efforts to fight low carbon fuel standards (LCFS) in California, Oregon, and Washington State.³³Bradford Wieners. “Leaked: The Oil Lobby’s Conspiracy to Kill Off California’s Climate Law,” Bloomberg Businessweek, November 25, 2014. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. ³⁴“WSPA Priority Issues” (PDF), Western States Petroleum Association, November 11, 2014. Retrieved from Influencemap.org.

The presentation deck, by WSPA President Catherine Reheis-Boyd, lays out an astroturf campaign with the creation of orchestrated “grassroots” groups such as the Oregon Climate Change Campaign, Washington Consumers for Sound Fuel Policy, and AB 32 Implementation Group.³⁵“WSPA Priority Issues” (PDF), Western States Petroleum Association, November 11, 2014. Retrieved from Influencemap.org.

“The environmental community is used to sky-is-falling analysis from fossil fuel interests in response to clean energy initiatives, so that part isn’t surprising,” commented Tim O’Connor, a senior attorney at the Environmental Defense Fund to whom Bloomberg sent a copy of the presentation. “But it’s eye-opening to see the lengths [the WSPA] has gone to push back rather than move forward. I don’t think anybody knew how cross-jurisdictional, cross-border, and extensive their investment is in creating a false consumer backlash against [climate legislation].”³⁶“WSPA Priority Issues” (PDF), Western States Petroleum Association, November 11, 2014. Retrieved from Influencemap.org.

January 20, 2012

WSPA, the American Petroleum Institute, and the National Petroleum Refiners Association (now American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers or AFPM) filed a petition with the EPA, asking to retroactively waive the 2011 biofuel requirement made under the renewable fuel standard (RFS).³⁷Kris Bevill. “EPA denies oil’s request to waive cellulosic RFS, lawsuit pending,” Ethanol Producer Magazine, May 30, 2012. Archived October 6, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/2SEq3

In June 2012, WSPA and AFPM went on to file a lawsuit against the EPA‘s RFS, challenging their mandate to blend domestic fuel with ethanol.³⁸“RENEWABLE FUELS STANDARDS (RFS) CHALLENGES UNDER THE ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2007,” Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. Archived October 6, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/DnNPk

Related Organizations

California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (CAHCC)

WSPA and the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (CAHCC) have participated in a number of events together and have also shared an overlap of staff members.

A press release announcing former San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SJCHCC) CEO Brenna Butler would be promoted to a position at Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) also lists WSPA as a “Chamber Champion.”³⁹“SJC Hispanic Chamber Launches Search for ‘The Next Big CEO’ as Butler-Garcia is Promoted to Western States Petroleum Association,” San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, December 18, 2015.

Events

In August 2018, Argelia Leon—Manager of Strategic Partnerships for WSPA—participated in a panel hosted by the Latino Leadership & Policy Forum at the 2018 CAHCC Convention.⁴⁰“Great panel re #poweringCalifornia with Margita Thompson -California Resourced Corporation, Argelia Leon -Western States Petroleum Association, Mark Lomeli -Andeavor at @CAHispanic convention.#CAVoice,” Twitter post by user “@latinoLPForum. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.

In March 2017, WSPA co-hosted a “legislative day” in Sacramento with the San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.⁴¹“The San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of commerce@ WSPA legislative day in Sacramento #WSPA #sjchcc,” Twitter Post by user “@CarlosVillapud1,” March 8, 2017. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.

Staff Overlap

• Brenna Butler Garcia — Formerly the chief executive officer of CAHCC, Garcia was also formerly WSPA‘s manager for marketing and external engagement from Jan. 2016 to Sept. 2017.⁴²“Brenna Butler Garcia,” LinkedIn. Accessed February 25, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
• Nicholas Ortiz — Ortiz formerly worked as a production regions manager for WSPA from June 2011 to April 2015.⁴³“Nicholas Ortiz,” LinkedIn. Accessed February 25, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. During that time, he was also a board member of the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.⁴⁴“Nicholas Ortiz, Manager, Production Regions and Property Tax Issues Western States Petroleum Association” (PDF), Independent Energy Producers Association, September 23, 2013. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. In 2015, he left WSPA to work for the Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce.⁴⁵John Cox. “Ortiz hired to lead Bakersfield Chamber,” The Bakersfield Californian, March 18, 2016. Archived February 25, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/HXFsa

Other Organizations

• California Drivers Alliance — Program of the Western States Petroleum Association.⁴⁶“About,” California Drivers Alliance. Archived January 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/npn7t
• Washington Consumers for Sound Fuel Policy — Member.⁴⁷“Members,” Washington Consumers for Sound Fuel Policy. Archived December 3, 2014. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/bJKIa
• Oregonians for Sound Fuel Policy — Member.⁴⁸“Members,” Oregonians for Sound Fuel Policy. Archived March 16, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/NS1fQ
• Californians for Energy Independence aka “Californians for a Safe, Secure Energy Future” — Member.⁴⁹“ABOUT US,” Californians for Energy Independence. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/t9oT6
• Californians Against Higher Taxes — Member.⁵⁰Homepage, Californians Against Higher Taxes. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/LSD5T

WSPA Member Companies

Company

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2010

2011

2012

2017

2018

AERA

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Alaska Tanker Company

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Andeavor

Y

Y

ARCO

Y

Y

Arguello, Inc.

Y

Y

Y

Y

Ashland Oil Company

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Berry Petroleum

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Big West of California, LLC

Y

Y

BP

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

BP/Olympic Pipeline Company

Y

Y

Y

CALNEV Pipe Line Company

Y

Y

Y

CENCO Refining Company

Y

Y

Y

Chevron

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Chevron Pipelines

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Chevron Products Company

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Chevron Shipping

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Conoco Inc./Yellowstone Pipe Line Company

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

ConocoPhillips

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Equilon Enterprises LLC

Y

Y

Y

Exxon

Y

Y

ExxonMobil

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

ExxonMobil Pipelines

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

GATX Terminals Corporation

Y

Y

Giant Industries Inc.

Y

Y

Y

HollyFrontier

Y

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners

Y

Y

Kinder Morgan LP/Santa Fe Pacific Pipeline Co

Y

Y

Y

Lloyd Properties

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Marathon Oil Company

Y

Y

Y

Mobil Oil Corporation

Y

Y

Navajo Refining Company

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Noble Energy, Inc.

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Nuevo Energy Company

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Occidental of Elk Hills, Inc.

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Olympic Pipeline Company

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Pacific Operators Offshore

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

PBF Energy

Y

Y

Pennzoil Company

Y

Y

Phillips 66

Y

Y

Y

Plains Exploration and Production Company

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Polar Tanker, Inc.

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Poseidon Petroleum, LLC

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Samedan Oil Corporation

Y

Y

Y

Y

Santa Fe Pacific Pipeline Company/Kinder Morgan

Y

Santa Maria Energy

Y

Y

Santa Maria Pacific

Y

Sante Fe Pacific Pipeline Company

Y

Y

SeaRiver

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Seneca Resources

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Shell

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Shell Pipeline

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Texaco Exploration & Production, Inc.

Y

Y

Y

Torch Operating Company

Y

Y

Tosco Corporation

Y

Y

Y

U.S. Oil & Refining Company

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corporation

Y

Y

Y

US Oil & Refining

Y

Y

Y

Valero

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Venoco, Inc.

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Western Refining

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Yellowstone Pipe Line Company

Y

Tesoro

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

California Resources Corporation

Y

Y

Plains All American

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Contact & Address

Western States Petroleum Association⁵¹“Contact,” WSPA. Archived October 8, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/dxLAr
1415 L Street, Suite 600
Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: (916) 498-7750

Media Contacts

Kara Siepmann
Manager, Media Relations
(916) 325-3110
[email protected]
@karasiepmann

Kevin Slagle
Director, Strategic Communications
(916) 498-9203
[email protected]
@kslagle

Social Media

• @OfficialWSPA on Twitter.
• Western States Petroleum Association on LinkedIn.
• @WSPA on Facebook.
• @CA_Drivers (CA Drivers Alliance) on Twitter.

Other Resources

• “Western States Petroleum Association,” Wikipedia.
• “Unmasked: The Oil Industry Campaign to Undermine California’s Clean Energy Future” (PDF), Natural Resource Defence Council, November 2014.
• Anne C. Mulkern. “Businesses spent millions lobbying before cap-and-trade vote,” E&E News, July 26, 2017.

Resources

• 1
  “About,” WSPA. Archived September 28, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/RtC49
• 2
  Dan Bacher. “Western States Petroleum Association Continues to Top CA Lobbying Expenses,” CounterPunch, August 19, 2016. Archived September 28, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/o3Q6R
• 3
  Bradford Wieners. “Leaked: The Oil Lobby’s Conspiracy to Kill Off California’s Climate Law,” Bloomberg Businessweek, November 25, 2014. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
• 4
  Homepage, California Driver’s Alliance. Archived February 9, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/ugOkl
• 5
  “About,” California Driver’s Alliance, Archived January 1, 2015. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/npn7t
• 6
  “About,” California Drivers Alliance. Archived January 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/npn7t
• 7
  “http://www.californiadriversalliance.org/” Internet Wayback Machine snapshot.
• 8
  “Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA),” InfluenceMap.org. Archived September 30, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/ZsPTd
• 9
  “Climate Change,” WSPA. Archived September 29, 2017. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/q2fWY
• 10
  Bradford Wieners. “Leaked: The Oil Lobby’s Conspiracy to Kill Off California’s Climate Law,” Bloomberg Businessweek, November 25, 2014. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
• 11
  Dan Bacher. “Western States Petroleum Association Continues to Top CA Lobbying Expenses,” CounterPunch, August 19, 2016. Archived September 28, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/o3Q6R
• 12
  Dan Bacher. “Western States Petroleum Association Leads Lobbying Spending This Year,” Daily KOS, May 15, 2017. Archived September 28, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/zutdN
• 13
  “Oil industry doubled spending on lobbying in California last year,” The Sacramento Bee, February 4, 2015. Archived September 29, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/sWFlK
• 14
  “Lobbying Activity: WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION,” California Secretary of State Alex Padilla. Accessed September 29, 2017.
• 15
  Western States Petroleum Association Form 635 for January 1 2018 to April 31, 2018. Retrieved from California Secretary of State.
• 16
  Phil Willon. “Huntington Beach oil spill inspires legislation to ban California offshore drilling,” Los Angeles Times, February 9, 2022. Archived November 7, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/nJm51
• 17
  Catharine Reheist-Boyd,” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s climate change orders reflect panic, will cost California families,” The Sacramento Bee, September 26, 2020. Archived October 8, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/OXMxL
• 18
  Linda Baker. “‘Projections don’t match aspirational goals‘,” Oregon Business, July 25, 2017. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/c0bVM
• 19
  Linda Baker. “‘Projections don’t match aspirational goals‘,” Oregon Business, July 25, 2017. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/c0bVM
• 20
  Linda Baker. “‘Projections don’t match aspirational goals‘,” Oregon Business, July 25, 2017. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/c0bVM
• 21
  Linda Baker. “‘Projections don’t match aspirational goals‘,” Oregon Business, July 25, 2017. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/c0bVM
• 22
  “President’s Statement on Cap and Trade – Governor’s Proposal,” WSPA, January 10, 2017. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/9YzGn
• 23
  “President’s Statement on Cap and Trade – Governor’s Proposal,” WSPA, January 10, 2017. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/9YzGn
• 24
  “WSPA Comments On Clean Air Rule,” WSPA, September 27, 2016. Archived September 29, 2017. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/87ni2
• 25
  Adrienne Alvord. “WSPA Lies: Oil Companies Are At It Again… And California Is The Target,” Union of Concerned Scientists, August 19, 2015. Archived October 6, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/eQFmR
• 26
  “SB 350 (DE LEON) CLEAN ENERGY AND POLLUTION REDUCTION ACT OF 2015 OPPOSE – JOB KILLER,” Amy Mmagu, California Chamber of Commerce et al, June 3, 2015. Retrieved from CapitolTrack.
• 27
  Robert Gammon. “California’s Missing Climate Hawk,” East Bay Express, September 2, 2015. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/f9WqX
• 28
  Patrick McGreevy. “California Senate leader says oil industry ‘fear-mongering’ on SB 350,” The Los Angeles Times, August 19, 2015. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/NPPRv
• 29
  Patrick McGreevy. “California Senate leader says oil industry ‘fear-mongering’ on SB 350,” The Los Angeles Times, August 19, 2015. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/NPPRv
• 30
  Jeremy B. White. “Oil industry’s spending surged as it fought California climate bill,” The Sacramento Bee, November 2, 2015. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/OJFwI
• 31
  “SB 32 (PAVLEY) CALIFORNIA GLOBAL SOLUTIONS ACT OF 2006 SET FOR HEARING – APRIL 29, 2015  OPPOSE/JOB KILLER – AS AMENDED MARCH 16, 2015” (PDF), California Chamber of Commerce et al, April 17, 2015. Retrieved from CapitolTrack.
• 32
  Adrienne Alvord. “WSPA Lies: Oil Companies Are At It Again… And California Is The Target,” Union of Concerned Scientists, August 19, 2015. Archived October 6, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/eQFmR
• 33
  Bradford Wieners. “Leaked: The Oil Lobby’s Conspiracy to Kill Off California’s Climate Law,” Bloomberg Businessweek, November 25, 2014. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
• 34
  “WSPA Priority Issues” (PDF), Western States Petroleum Association, November 11, 2014. Retrieved from Influencemap.org.
• 35
  “WSPA Priority Issues” (PDF), Western States Petroleum Association, November 11, 2014. Retrieved from Influencemap.org.
• 36
  “WSPA Priority Issues” (PDF), Western States Petroleum Association, November 11, 2014. Retrieved from Influencemap.org.
• 37
  Kris Bevill. “EPA denies oil’s request to waive cellulosic RFS, lawsuit pending,” Ethanol Producer Magazine, May 30, 2012. Archived October 6, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/2SEq3
• 38
  “RENEWABLE FUELS STANDARDS (RFS) CHALLENGES UNDER THE ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2007,” Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. Archived October 6, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/DnNPk
• 39
  “SJC Hispanic Chamber Launches Search for ‘The Next Big CEO’ as Butler-Garcia is Promoted to Western States Petroleum Association,” San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, December 18, 2015.
• 40
  “Great panel re #poweringCalifornia with Margita Thompson -California Resourced Corporation, Argelia Leon -Western States Petroleum Association, Mark Lomeli -Andeavor at @CAHispanic convention.#CAVoice,” Twitter post by user “@latinoLPForum. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
• 41
  “The San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of commerce@ WSPA legislative day in Sacramento #WSPA #sjchcc,” Twitter Post by user “@CarlosVillapud1,” March 8, 2017. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
• 42
  “Brenna Butler Garcia,” LinkedIn. Accessed February 25, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
• 43
  “Nicholas Ortiz,” LinkedIn. Accessed February 25, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
• 44
  “Nicholas Ortiz, Manager, Production Regions and Property Tax Issues Western States Petroleum Association” (PDF), Independent Energy Producers Association, September 23, 2013. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
• 45
  John Cox. “Ortiz hired to lead Bakersfield Chamber,” The Bakersfield Californian, March 18, 2016. Archived February 25, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/HXFsa
• 46
  “About,” California Drivers Alliance. Archived January 1, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/npn7t
• 47
  “Members,” Washington Consumers for Sound Fuel Policy. Archived December 3, 2014. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/bJKIa
• 48
  “Members,” Oregonians for Sound Fuel Policy. Archived March 16, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/NS1fQ
• 49
  “ABOUT US,” Californians for Energy Independence. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/t9oT6
• 50
  Homepage, Californians Against Higher Taxes. Archived October 7, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/LSD5T
• 51
  “Contact,” WSPA. Archived October 8, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/dxLAr