Ben Jervey
DeSmog
Barnard, VT, United States
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Past articles by Benjamin:
How the Koch Network's ‘Social Change' Strategy Is Built to Kill the Electric Car
This story is part of Covering Climate Now, a global collaboration of more than 250 news outlets to strengthen coverage of the climate story. → Read More
Fees on Electric Cars, Inspired by Koch Network, Are Unfairly Penalizing Drivers, Says Consumer Reports
Drivers of electric cars are being unfairly punished by punitive fees in several states, according to a newly published analysis by Consumer Reports. Legislators in 26 states have enacted or proposed special registration fees for electric vehicles (EVs) that the consumer advocacy group found to be → Read More
On David Koch’s Passing and the Koch Network’s Ongoing War on Clean Energy
Billionaire libertarian activist and oil industry tycoon David Koch died on Friday, leaving a toxic legacy that includes helping birth the climate denial movement, fighting against regulations that protect worker and public health, and — critical to our work here on DeSmog's KochvsClean project — → Read More
Freedom to Drive Coalition Brings the Koch Disinformation Playbook to Colorado
In recent years, the majority of Coloradans have been struggling to breathe clean air, and tailpipe emissions carry much of the blame. Lawmakers have started to take on this threat with a number of clean car standards and incentives coming out of the Governor's office and the state legislature. → Read More
New Poll Shows Widespread Bipartisan Interest in Electric Cars
The vast majority of Americans have a positive impression of electric vehicles (EVs), according to a newly released nationwide survey of registered voters by Climate Nexus. → Read More
NAACP Reveals Tactics Fossil Fuel Industry Uses to Manipulate Communities of Color
The fossil fuel industry regularly deploys manipulative and dishonest tactics when engaging with communities of color, often working to co-opt the respect and authority of minority-led groups to serve corporate goals. That is according to a new report, “Fossil Fueled Foolery,” published today by the → Read More
Trump Budget for Renewables Slashed 70% Under Former Koch Insider’s Leadership
When President Trump nominated long-time Koch network insider and renewable energy antagonist Daniel Simmons to lead the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), the administration's priorities for federal energy programs were made abundantly clear. → Read More
Toyota Is Losing the Electric Car Race, So It Pretends Hybrids Are Better
There are at least 12 car companies currently selling an all-electric vehicle in the United States, and Toyota isn’t one of them. Despite admitting recently that the Tesla Model 3 alone is responsible for half of Toyota’s customer defections in North America — as Prius drivers transition to all → Read More
Big Oil Ally Derrick Hollie Dismisses Environmental Justice, Promotes Natural Gas at House Climate Hearing
This week, during the House Committee on Natural Resources' hearing on “Climate Change: Impacts and the Need to Act,” Representatives heard about the threats that climate change poses to the safety, prosperity, and general well-being of Americans, and particularly to marginalized communities of → Read More
How This Oil Refiners Group Rallied GOP Governors' Support for Trump’s Rollback of Auto Standards
As the Trump administration worked to revise and relax federal fuel economy and emissions standards for cars and light trucks, an oil refiners trade group worked connections with Republican governors to rally support for the proposed rollback. → Read More
Senators Demand Trump Admin Reveal Marathon Petroleum, Koch Influence on Clean Car Standards Rollback
Two Senate Democrats this week ordered several Trump administration cabinet members and agency officials to reveal how the oil industry and Koch network have worked behind closed doors to influence the proposed rollback of auto efficiency and emissions standards. → Read More
Kochs Fund Study to Kill Electric Vehicle Tax Credit Via Same Group That Defended Tobacco Industry
When Koch Industries needs a study to cast doubt on the benefits of electric vehicles (EVs), where does it turn? → Read More
Trump Administration Officially Proposes Rolling Back Clean Car Standards
In a long expected move, the Trump administration announced Thursday morning that it is proposing to weaken the Obama-era clean car emissions and fuel efficiency standards, and that it will seek to limit California's authority to set tougher standards. → Read More
Trump Administration to Halt Clean Car Standards, Revoke California's Right to Regulate
The Trump administration will announce plans this week to revoke California’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions for automobiles, according to inside sources quoted by Bloomberg. → Read More
Colorado Adopts California Clean Car Standards in Defiance of Trump Admin
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper announced Tuesday that his state would join 13 states and the District of Columbia in adopting California’s clean car emissions standards. → Read More
These Auto Industry Companies Are Demanding Strong Clean Car Standards, Despite Trump
There’s a major sector of the automobile industry that is unwavering in its support of strong clean car standards: auto parts manufacturers. → Read More
On Rollbacks, Automakers Tell Trump 'Not So Fast,' Kochs Say 'Burn More Gas'
It’s a classic case of be careful what you wish for. Automakers asked the Trump administration to weaken emissions and efficiency standards for cars and light trucks, and are now anxious about just how much the Trump administration actually plans to weaken the standards. → Read More
17 States Sue EPA Over Pruitt's Decision to Weaken Auto Standards
It didn’t take long for the first legal challenges be filed against the Trump administration’s recent move to weaken automobile emissions standards. On April 3, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) withdrew the Obama-era decision to retain the greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars → Read More
Ford Touts 'Green' Image While Arguing for Weaker Efficiency Standards and Planning to Sell Only Trucks
Ford Motor Company would really like the public to believe that it supports strong emissions and efficiency standards for personal vehicles. Just ask Board Chair Bill Ford and President and CEO Jim Hackett, who recently wrote: “We support increasing clean car standards through 2025 and are not → Read More
Rick Perry and Bob Murray Renew Conservative Call to Subsidize Coal
Conservative rancor toward the free market in energy systems was on full display this week, as both Secretary of Energy Rick Perry and coal magnate Robert Murray made loud, unapologetic calls to subsidize coal-fired power plants. → Read More