Energy group gives Trump its first-ever endorsement

The American Energy Alliance is giving presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump its first-ever endorsement of a political candidate.

The AEA, the advocacy arm of the conservative Institute for Energy Research, said Tuesday that Trump would undo President Obama’s policies that have harmed fossil fuels, unleashing massive economic growth.

{mosads}“Donald Trump has put forth a plan that would move our country forward by opening up more federal lands and waters for energy exploration of all kinds, utilizing cutting-edge technologies to tap into our vast resources, unwinding the Obama administration’s harmful regulations, and subjecting the Paris Agreement to the scrutiny it deserves,” Tom Pyle, the group’s president, said in a statement.

“These policies will usher in an era of prosperity that will strengthen our economy, put more money in the pockets of American families, and lift many struggling Americans out of poverty.”

By contrast, presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton “offers the American people a plan that would move our country backwards — hurting all American families, but especially the poorest among us,” Pyle said.

In a May speech, Trump outlined an energy policy vision that focused on increasing development of oil, natural gas and coal, rolling back Obama policies and completely eliminating any dependence on imported energy, actions he said would spur hundreds of billions of dollars in economic development.

Trump called Obama’s climate change regulations “stupid” and has previously called global warming a “hoax” perpetuated by China.

Earlier Tuesday, the Sierra Club published a report saying that if he were president, Trump would stand alone as the only world leader who does not believe in climate change.

The AEA, founded in 2008, is a self-described free market advocacy organization. It’s funded heavily by fossil fuel interests and their business allies and has received support from the billionaire conservative brothers Charles and David Koch.

Trump has also been endorsed by the West Virginia Coal Association.

Clinton has received the backing of major environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, the League of Conservation Voters and the Natural Resources Defense Council’s political arm, the NRDC Action Fund.