Michael Whatley, the current Republican National Committee chair, has formally announced his bid for a U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina, a move endorsed by Donald Trump that immediately positions him in one of the most closely watched races for the 2026 midterms. This development brings renewed scrutiny to Whatley’s extensive past involvement with HBW Resources, a public relations and lobbying firm, and its affiliated Houston-registered nonprofit, the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), an organization widely criticized for its deep ties to the fossil fuel industry and its tactics in influencing energy policy.

Whatley served as executive vice president of the Consumer Energy Alliance from 2008 to 2019, concurrently holding a partner position at HBW. Despite CEA’s public claim to advocate for “sensible energy policy” and represent the “voice of the energy consumer,” tax records and media investigations, including reports by the Center for Public Integrity and the Washington Post, reveal a significant blurring of lines between CEA and HBW, with nearly all CEA staff also holding roles at HBW. The nonprofit status of CEA allows it to avoid disclosing its funders, though it has reportedly received substantial funding from major industry groups such as American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers and the American Petroleum Institute, with current members including Chevron, Shell, and ExxonMobil.

Much of CEA’s work under Whatley’s tenure focused on opposing climate regulations and advocating for expanded fossil fuel access. In 2009-2010, Whatley reportedly discussed “grassroots operations” to generate opposition to low-carbon fuel standards in various U.S. states. Following federal interest in such standards, CEA launched a $1 million radio and TV ad campaign across four states, arguing that the standards would harm the economy. In 2014, the Center for Public Integrity reported on CEA’s close collaboration with governors from eight states, including North Carolina, to lobby the Obama administration for expanded offshore drilling, providing talking points that were used in meetings with then-Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.

More recently, CEA has faced ethical questions regarding its advocacy tactics. In 2016, the Toledo Blade reported that hundreds of allegedly fraudulent letters supporting a natural gas pipeline in Ohio and Michigan were sent to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, some purportedly from deceased individuals. Similar allegations arose in 2023 regarding a letter campaign supporting fracking in Ohio state parks, where dozens of Ohioans claimed their names were used without permission. CEA has denied wrongdoing in both instances, attributing errors to unintentional mistakes.

In January, the Washington Post reported that CEA helped launch the Energy Poverty Awareness Center (EnPAC), an advocacy group led by former NFL player Gary Baxter, ostensibly focused on advancing prosperity for minority communities through affordable energy. Critics, including the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters and the Energy and Policy Institute (EPI), have labeled CEA a “front group” for the industry, accusing it of framing pro-fossil fuel objectives as social justice concerns. EPI also highlighted a 2022 Facebook advertisement from CEA that linked fossil fuel access to feminism, further illustrating its broad advocacy approach.

Whatley’s public statements on climate change have largely focused on the economic impact of regulations. In a 2013 blog post for CEA, he criticized then-President Barack Obama’s “Climate Change Action Plan,” arguing that proposed limits on power plant emissions would lead to “higher electricity costs.” While acknowledging “some good news” in the plan’s goal to double renewable electricity generation and streamline permitting, he concluded that consumers would “undoubtedly feel the painful effects of higher energy costs.” This history provides a critical lens through which to evaluate his future policy positions, particularly in a state like North Carolina, which is increasingly impacted by climate events.