Fossil fuel corporations spend millions pushing back against climate accountability bills while communities demand justice
Contact:
Aimee Dewing, aimee@lastchancealliance.org
Blake Marquez, Blake@sunstonestrategies.org
Sacramento, CA. — In response to Big Oil’s massive Q1 lobbying blitz, climate justice advocates from across California rallied in Sacramento yesterday to champion the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act, SB 684 by Senator Menjivar, and AB 1243, by Assemblymember Addis and demand that polluters—not taxpayers—cover the cost of climate damages. Led by the California Environmental Justice Alliance Action (CEJA Action), over 65 advocates joined lawmakers at the Capitol, calling for bold action to hold fossil fuel corporations accountable.
Photos from the lobby day are available here.
“Frontline communities have paid the price for climate disasters for far too long—through wildfires, flooding, and health impacts. We showed up because Californians are done letting Big Oil dodge responsibility,” said Mabel Tsang, Political Director at the California Environmental Justice Alliance Action (CEJA Action). “This Superfund bill is a critical step towards real environmental justice investment to protect Californians first and worst impacted. We’re urging lawmakers to listen to the people—not polluters—and make those most responsible for the climate crisis pay for the harm they’ve caused.”
New lobbying disclosures reveal that gas and oil corporations spent a near record pace of over $9 million influencing the legislature in the first three months of 2025. The industry deployed its profits to fight back against common-sense climate and polluter accountability bills. This Q1 spending spree mirrors Big Oil’s aggressive push in early 2023 to defeat a proposed penalty on oil price gouging.
Chevron and the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), the top lobbying spenders in 2024, each poured well over $3 million into Q1 influence efforts—totaling over $7 million between them. Major refiners Marathon Petroleum, Valero, and Phillips 66 each spent between $230,000 and $300,000.
Top 5 lobbying and influence spenders:
| Company | Lobbying money spent |
| Chevron | $3,758,914.59 |
| Western States Petroleum Association | $3,471,879.71 |
| Marathon Petroleum | $301,023.56 |
| Valero | $242,781 |
| Phillips 66 | $230,462.29 |
Oil majors and trade groups have actively opposed bills put forward by the Make Polluters Pay coalition, including Senator Wiener’s SB 222, which would have allowed climate disaster victims to seek compensation from the fossil fuel companies responsible. Chevron, WSPA, Marathon, and Valero were among those lobbying to kill the bill.
More recently, the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act has faced fierce industry opposition. Ten oil companies, including Chevron, Marathon, ExxonMobil, Shell, and PBF Energy, lobbied against the bill, which would hold fossil fuel corporations financially responsible for the damage they’ve caused. States like New York and Vermont have passed similar legislation.
Chevron also directed $235,000 to the front group Californians for Energy Independence and $64,000 to DDC Public Affairs, a Washington, DC firm notorious for building fossil fuel-funded front groups to block progressive energy policy.
Additional information on Q1 lobbying activity is available upon request.
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