Lobbyist dubbed Dr Evil behind front groups attacking Obama power rules

Source: The Guardian

Lobbyist dubbed Dr Evil behind front groups attacking Obama power rules

Richard Berman routed funding for at least 16 studies and five front groups
attacking Environmental Protection Agency rules on power plant emissions

Suzanne Goldenberg
Monday 23 February 2015 13.49 GMT

To Washington insiders he is Dr Evil: the hidden orchestrator of industry campaigns against the Humane Society, Mothers against Drunk Driving, and other seemingly uncontroversial groups.

Now Richard Berman, a one-time lobbyist turned industry strategist, has zeroed in on another target: Barack Obama’s new power plant rules.

Over the last year, Berman has secretly routed funding for at least 16 studies and launched at least five front groups attacking Environmental Protection Agency rules cutting carbon dioxide from power plants, the Guardian has learned.

The rules, the centre-piece of Obama’s climate agenda, are due to be finalised in mid-summer. They have come under sustained assault from industry and Republican-controlled Congress – and Berman is right at the heart of it.

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/feb/23/lobbyist-dubbed-dr-evil-behind-front-groups-attacking-obama-power-rules