climate strategies watch

Conservative groups whose clout grew in the recent N.C. elections want to repeal a groundbreaking state law requiring utilities to generate a small percentage of energy from renewable sources. Incoming Republican Gov. Pat McCrory has close ties to renewable energy foes -- and to renewable energy proponents. If forced to choose, which side would he be on?

John Droz of the American Tradition Institute, a fossil fuel-funded advocacy group that works to discredit climate science, was the mastermind of an effort that called for setting up "dummy businesses" to buy anti-wind power billboards and creating a "counter-intelligence branch" to track the industry.

Internal documents obtained from the Heartland Institute, a leading player in the climate disinformation campaign, show that the group is counting on continuing support from the North Carolina conservative benefactor and retail magnate.

Dirty-energy interests, wealthy conservatives and the think tanks they fund have joined forces to target global-warming researchers using the Freedom of Information Act -- and this week they're set for a showdown in a Virginia courtroom.