Equilon Enterprises LLC, doing business as Shell Oil Products US, is a subsidiary of the Shell Oil Company, itself a subsidiary of the Royal Dutch Shell group. Formerly a joint venture of Shell and Texaco, it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell in 2001 when Texaco was forced to sell its stake as a condition of its merger with Chevron. Equilon/Shell (hereafter referred to as Shell) refines, transports, and sells petroleum products, including gasoline. It owns and operates a sizable number of gas stations across the United States. Its parent corporations are also engaged in the exploration and extraction of fossil fuels, including petroleum and natural gas.
According to the University of Massachusetts, Royal Dutch Shell is the twenty eighth largest corporate air polluter in the United States. In 2006, its facilities emitted 2.98 million pounds of toxic gas into the air.
Assets in Washington State
Shell’s major assets in Washington State include:
- a refinery in Anacortes, located at 8505 S Texas Road, Anacortes, WA 98221
- a storage terminal in Seattle, located at 2555 13th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA 98134
Lobbying
Shell’s political action committee has spent $11.38 million on federal campaigns since 1990. Like other big oil companies, it heavily favors Republicans and right wing candidates. Top recipients of Shell’s money in 2008 were two corrupt Alaska Republicans – Representative Don Young and the late Senator Ted Stevens.
Last year, Shell spent almost $10.2 million lobbying at the federal level and additional sums lobbying at the state level. Their lobbyist in Olympia is Steve Gano & Associates. Shell’s lobbying expenses for 2009 in Washington amounted to $40,758.88 (PDC data).
What Shell Wants
Like several other massive oil companies that have sunk big bucks into Initiative 1053, Shell wants to avoid being held responsible for the pollution it emits into our air and water. In the most recent legislative session, the House and Senate considered legislation that would have slightly increased the hazardous materials tax to pay for cleanup efforts. Lobbyists for Shell and the other oil companies pulled out all the stops to defeat the legislation, and they succeeded.
They were so successful in fact, that neither HB 3181 (which had thirty seven cosponsors!), nor its companion bill, SB 6851 (which had twenty four cosponsors!) was brought to the floor for a vote. (The bills died in the respective Rules Committee of the chamber where they were introduced, because they were each short one or two votes).
Though Big Oil won, the environmental movement is already talking about trying to get the cleanup bill passed in 2011. So the oil companies have decided to buy an insurance policy for next year in the form of Tim Eyman’s Initiative 1053.
If I-1053 passes, the Legislature will not be able to increase the hazardous materials tax with a simple majority vote. All the oil lobbyists would have to do is convince a third of one house to oppose such a proposal, and they could kill it.
That’s why Shell supports Initiative 1053. They’re not interested in smart public policy. They’re not interested in protecting Washington’s quality of life. They’re interested in their bottom line. It’s just…Â good business.
Corporate Profile
- Company Type: Privately held subsidiary of public company
- Parent Corporation Traded On: NYSE, LSE, Euronext (RDSA and RDSB)
- Contribution Address: PO Box 4913, Houston, Texas, 77210
- Chief Executive (Royal Dutch Shell): Peter Voser
- Chief Executive (Shell Oil Company): Marvin E. Odum
- 2010 1st Quarter Revenue: $87.7 billion
- 2010 1st Quarter Net Profit: $5.5 billion
Contribution History for 2010 Cycle
| Amount | Date | Initiative/Sponsor | Committee Given To |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | 07/06/2010 | 1053 (Tim Eyman) | Voters Want More Choices |
Total amount shelled out by Shell for electioneering: $50,000