Company Directory - American Petroleum Institute
Company Details - American Petroleum Institute

American Petroleum Institute
A national trade association representing all aspects of the oil and natural gas industry in the United States.
CCI Score
CCI Score: American Petroleum Institute
-57.30
0.03%
Latest Event
API Praises Trump’s Energy Order
The American Petroleum Institute expressed support for President Trump’s executive order that challenges state climate laws, arguing it will protect American energy production from 'climate superfunds'. The statement aligns with the administration's efforts to undermine state-level environmental regulations, stirring controversy over the politicization of energy policy.
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QUISLING
American Petroleum Institute is currently rated as a Quisling.
Latest Events
- APR102025
The American Petroleum Institute expressed support for President Trump’s executive order that challenges state climate laws, arguing it will protect American energy production from 'climate superfunds'. The statement aligns with the administration's efforts to undermine state-level environmental regulations, stirring controversy over the politicization of energy policy.
- FEB062025
The OpenSecrets profile reports that the American Petroleum Institute accounted for $6.92 million in contributions and spent $6.25 million on lobbying during the 2024 cycle. This level of political financial engagement highlights a significant effort to shape policy in favor of oil industry interests.
-60
Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts
April 10
The reported high amounts in political contributions and lobbying activities indicate that the API is heavily engaged in influencing political decisions. Such deep involvement in political financing can contribute to corporate capture of policy-making, undermining regulatory safeguards and the interests of marginalized communities.
- NOV152024
The American Petroleum Institute released a policy wishlist urging President-elect Donald Trump’s administration to reverse Biden-era environmental rules, including repealing EV emissions regulations and easing LNG export permits. API President and CEO Mike Sommers emphasized the need for an approach that favors fossil fuel interests, aligning with deregulatory and potentially authoritarian policies.
-60
Executive Political Engagement
April 10
API’s open letter and policy wishlist directly support a deregulatory agenda by advising the incoming Trump administration to roll back environmental protections. This messaging, driven by its CEO, aligns the organization with politically motivated efforts to favor industry interests over public and environmental welfare, which can bolster authoritarian policies and undermine protections for marginalized communities.
American Petroleum Institute gives Trump a deregulatory policy wishlist
- FEB152023
The article highlights that the American Petroleum Institute's allied trade groups have spent exceptionally high amounts on political activities—including advertising, lobbying, and grants—to obstruct climate policies and protect fossil fuel interests, outspending clean energy groups by up to 27 times.
-80
Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts
April 10
The article documents how API and its allies funnel massive funds into political contributions, lobbying, and negative public relations campaigns aimed at stalling pro-climate policy developments, thereby reinforcing authoritarian influences and corporate control over policy making.
Big Oil’s Trade Group Allies Outspent Clean Energy Groups by a Whopping 27 Times
-70
Regulatory Capture
April 10
By channeling funds into political advertising and grants aimed at influencing public policy and undermining climate regulations, API’s activities resemble regulatory capture. This deepens corporate influence over democratic processes and impedes efforts to clamp down on fossil fuel industries.
Big Oil’s Trade Group Allies Outspent Clean Energy Groups by a Whopping 27 Times
- OCT182022
On October 18, 2022, New Jersey filed a lawsuit naming several oil companies and the American Petroleum Institute, alleging that API, as the industry’s principal lobbying group, played a key role in concealing the dangers of climate change and misleading the public through orchestrated PR campaigns.
-80
Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts
April 10
The lawsuit accuses the American Petroleum Institute of engaging in deliberate political manipulation through its lobbying efforts, funding campaigns to mislead the public about climate change. This action reflects a profound failure in ethical corporate conduct and abuse of political influence, thereby contributing to authoritarian-aligned misinformation tactics.
- JAN012022
According to OpenSecrets data, the American Petroleum Institute spent $4,380,000 on lobbying in 2022. This significant lobbying expenditure reflects the organization’s efforts to exert substantial influence over U.S. federal policy, a move that is seen as aligning corporate interests with political power and potentially undermining democratic accountability.
-50
Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts
April 10
The reported $4,380,000 spent on lobbying by API in 2022 indicates a robust engagement in political influence. From an anti-fascist perspective, such extensive lobbying efforts by a trade association representing the fossil fuel industry are worrisome, as they can contribute to policies that favor corporate interests over the public good, undermining democratic processes.
- OCT282021
A staff memo released on October 28, 2021 by Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney highlights that the American Petroleum Institute, along with other major fossil fuel companies, spent millions lobbying for tax breaks while devoting almost no effort toward meaningful climate reforms, exposing a disconnect between their public environmental claims and actual lobbying practices.
-80
Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts
April 10
The analysis indicates that API allocated $78 million towards lobbying primarily on tax issues, with only a negligible fraction directed at supporting the Paris Agreement or carbon pricing legislation. This behavior suggests a strategy to enhance public image through superficial support for climate reform, while substantively protecting profit-driven practices that contribute to the fossil fuel industry's harmful impact. Such actions undermine genuine environmental progress and reflect alignment with corporate interests over public good.
- OCT062021
The American Petroleum Institute spent over $2 million on lobbying and a seven-figure ad buy aimed at misleading the public against President Biden’s Build Back Better plan, as detailed in an InfluenceMap report ahead of a House Oversight Committee hearing.
-80
Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts
April 10
The American Petroleum Institute, through its significant spending of over $2 million on lobbying and a sizable ad campaign, actively undermined progressive climate policy and misled the public about initiatives like the Build Back Better plan. This activity supports fossil fuel interests at the expense of climate action and working and middle-class communities, aligning with authoritarian business practices.
API Spending Millions Lobbying Against Climate Solutions - Accountable US
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Industries
- 211120
- Crude Petroleum Extraction
- 211130
- Natural Gas Extraction
- 324110
- Petroleum Refineries
- 486110
- Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
- 486210
- Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
- 541620
- Environmental Consulting Services
- 922190
- Other Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities
- 324190
- Other Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing