For such a small state, Delaware is keeping America on its toes this election cycle. The latest issue: A comment made by Democrat Chris Coons regarding a charge that his family could potentially benefit from energy legislation.
In a recent Senate debate, Republican Christine O’Donnell asked the question: “I’d like to know if your family business stands to have a financial gain if Cap and Trade is passed, and if so, would you recuse yourself in the lame-duck sessions from voting with Harry Reid?”
How did Coons respond? “Fascinating question,” he said. “No, to the best of my knowledge there is no direct financial benefit. And I do think it’s important for folks in public office to conduct themselves ethically, to be transparent and to be accountable for decisions they make and for votes that they cast.”
Fascinating indeed. Just a bit of simple Googling, and a visit to ChrisCoons.com, and one finds that Coons is the stepson of the current chief executive for W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., a company which makes Gore-Tex and fuel cells, among other products. He also used to work at the company as a lawyer from 1996 to 2004. According to a spokesman, he still holds stock in the company.
Coons’ past work experience, of course, does not dictate his politics — many liberals support green energy without any profit motive. Still, when Gore was lobbying for greater pollution regulations in 2003, Coons was front-and-center in pushing for green reforms.
At the time, Coons was chairing a subcommittee on the New Castle County Council. According to an August 2003 report from the News Journal, which was provided by an O’Donnell campaign source:
Coons, who is president of the New Castle County Council, chaired the subcommittee that looked at ways to conserve power and to make the state more energy efficient. Ideas include expanding a state green energy fund so that more consumers contribute to it and have access to the fund. Currently, only Conectiv customers pay into the fund and are allowed to use money from it. The program subsidizes alternative power projects, like the installation of solar cells, for residents and businesses. It also, thanks to a recent change in state law, can subsidize research into renewable energy, like the kind being done on fuel cells by the DuPont Co. and W.L. Gore & Associates Inc. Coons, an in-house lawyer for Gore, said his group also studied ways to tighten energy efficiency standards for new construction. Currently, state building codes have rules that set minimum efficiency standards for homes and office buildings. Those rules need to be updated, Coons said.
Team O’Donnell argues that if Coons makes it to the Senate, he will push for similar green regulatory policies. They also point to President Obama’s stimulus package as a recent example of how Gore has benefited from having friends in Washington. According to Recovery Act documents, the company has raked in nearly $1 million in related funds:
Award(s): 2 totaling $814,000 from DOE / Treasury, Clean Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit (48C)
Location: Elkton, MD
W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Elkton, MD ‐ $604,000
W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., in Elkton received $604,000 to re‐equip two manufacturing facilities in New York and Maryland to produce the Gore Turbine Filter. The filter is used in natural gas turbines that deliver high fuel efficiency and low greenhouse gas emissions.
W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Elkton, MD ‐ $210,000
W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., in Elkton received $210,000 to retool a manufacturing facility to produce a key component of fuel cell systems used to improve fuel efficiency in vehicles.
O’Donnell aides tell Battle ’10 that they plan to “elevate this issue in the home stretch of the campaign, highlighting Coons’ financial interests with the Obama policies he has supported, and would likely support in the U.S. Senate.”