China Using Nonprofit Networks To Attack American Energy, Report Suggests

A Chinese Communist Party-connected organization gave millions of dollars to an environmental law non-profit that targets energy projects in Louisiana. [some emphasis, links added]

The Pelican Institute for Public Policy published a report outlining the institutional barriers preventing Louisiana from developing its energy industry.

Earthjustice, an environmental law organization headquartered in San Francisco, California, receives millions of dollars in funding from a non-profit organization with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), according to the Pelican Institute.

Earthjustice has represented green advocacy groups such as RISE St. James, Concerned Citizens of St. John, and the Alliance for Affordable Energy in lawsuits, permit challenges, and civil rights complaints, according to the Pelican Institute.

RISE St. James and Alliance for Affordable Energy are part of Louisiana Against False Solutions (LAF), an advocacy group coalition dedicated to transitioning the energy market away from fossil fuels, according to the Pelican Institute.

Earthjustice targeted a proposed petrochemical plant from Formosa Plastics, Denka’s synthetic rubber-producing facility, a Mitsubishi Chemical plant, and a methane gas power plant produced by Entergy Louisiana, according to the Pelican Institute.

Earthjustice received $6,562,936 from Energy Foundation China (EFC) since 2003, a non-profit organization with ties to the Chinese government.

EFC CEO Ji Zhou previously held leadership positions at China’s official National Center for Climate Change Strategy, which is embedded within the National Development and Reform Commission of the State Council. Zhou attended the 2015 Paris Climate Talks as a Chinese delegate, according to reporting by State Armor.

EFC board member Hongjun Zhang, a Washington D.C.-based lawyer, was previously a legislative director for the Chinese National People’s Congress, according to a report by The Washington Free Beacon.

EFC has registered headquarters in San Francisco and in Beijing, registered with the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, according to Influence Watch.

EFC was formerly part of the U.S. Energy Foundation (EF), which also funds LAF-associated groups, until the two organizations split in 2019. EF and EFC shared the same office in San Francisco after the split until 2022.

They shared company personnel until at least 2024, with 6 EFC employees compensated by EF through July 24, according to the Pelican Institute.

EF has been accused of funding U.S. organizations to advance Chinese energy interests through lawfare against the American energy sector, as discussed at a 2025 U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, according to the Pelican Institute.

EF and EFC gave $6.4 million to groups associated with the LAF, according to the Pelican Institute.

The Pelican Institute noted that the LAF groups received nearly $115.5 million from donors outside Louisiana, including Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Rockefeller Family Fund, the Bezos Earth Fund, and the Tides Foundation, which is seeded by George Soros.

Earthjustice partnered with former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s over $1 billion Beyond Carbon initiative and $85 million Beyond Petrochemicals campaign, according to the Pelican Institute.

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