Following the money: How Dominion's state political spending rates vs. top environmental groups

Gabe Cavallaro | Staunton News Leader

Money and politics, they undoubtedly go hand-in-hand — but as state politicians debate the merits of the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline in Virginia, is anyone outspending Dominion Energy across the commonwealth?

Well, for campaign contributions to statewide candidates, the top environmental groups' combined efforts actually have the energy giant beat.

Over the last decade the top three environmental campaign donors, the League of Conservation Voters, NextGen Climate Action, and the Sierra Club, have shelled out a combined $4,993,560 to individual statewide candidates compared to Dominion's figure of $3,319,853, according to the Virginia Public Access Project's data.

To be clear, these organizations are individual entities involved in different types of work that relate to the political process. And money in politics is more nuanced than simply comparing campaign contributions, noted Lee Francis, communications manager of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters.

They do all however have goals related to protecting the environment.

We recently wrote about a report from a nonprofit watchdog that detailed Dominion Energy's widespread influence across many levels of government in the commonwealth, in which the report's author, Derek Seidman, a research analyst with the Public Accountability Initiative, said "it’s important that the public is aware of the power behind the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which includes a company that gives millions to state politicians and hires lobbyists with ties to elected officials and regulatory bodies."

Dominion spokesperson Aaron Ruby noted at the time that the company was proud of that work, emphasizing that Dominion's participation in the political process is "legal, transparent and done with the utmost integrity." But they're not spending as much as the environmental lobby is on individual statewide candidates.

A very interesting example of this is the current governor, Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat who has publicly supported the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project. Dominion's contributions to his campaign over the last decade are the second most the company has given to any candidate in that period at $75,000.

More: Report sheds light on pipeline's statewide influence

On the other hand though, McAuliffe has gotten $3,817,580 from those three top environmental groups during that same time frame. Nearly all of the group's spending over the last decade is concentrated there, whereas Dominion has cast a much wider spending net, donating to over 250 candidate campaigns during those 10 years.

When the picture is expanded to include all spending, adding in contributions made to committees, which is where PACs and political parties are categorized, that's when Dominion surpasses the environmental lobby in spending over the last decade. Dominion shelled out $6,086,603 in Republican and Democratic contributions compared to the environmental groups' $5,397,767.

If you highlight the years in which there was a gubernatorial election, Dominion's expenditures paled in comparison to the environmental lobby during 2013 when McAuliffe was elected, but Dominion spent more in 2009 and has been the bigger campaign donor so far in 2017.

﻿Year Dominion: Democratic Dominion: Republican Dominion: Total Environmental Groups: Democratic Environmental Groups: Republican Environmental Groups: Total 2017 $91,399 $130,619 $222,018 $11,319 $0 $11,319 2013 $398,500 $450,606 $849,106 $4,072,751 $7,500 $4,080,251 2009 $345,767 $393,294 $739,061 $101,532 $0 $101,532 Total: $1,810,185 $4,193,102

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So what does that all mean? If nothing else, it speaks to the fact that there's a lot of donor money to be had out there for candidates, said Geoffrey Skelley, associate editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

Taking certain positions naturally will attract campaign contributions, he said — "it’s one of those things where organizations usually give money to people they think are going to support their desires and opinions."

Virginia is one of only 12 states where there are no limits on campaign contributions by individual donors — "there’s no question" money and politics are deeply intertwined here, Skelley said.

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