Energy Transfer Partners

Energy Transfer Partners is the most blatant example of the donation-to-approval pipeline in American energy politics. CEO Kelcy Warren's political donations correlate so directly with regulatory approvals that the company's history reads like a tutorial in how money buys government decisions. Warren gave $10 million to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and Energy Transfer received pipeline approvals. Warren gave $5 million to Ted Cruz, and Cruz championed pro-pipeline legislation. The Dakota Access Pipeline was approved by the Army Corps of Engineers within days of Trump's inauguration — after Energy Transfer was a major donor to Trump's campaign and inaugural committee. The 2021 Texas power grid failure is Energy Transfer's most damning chapter. While millions of Texans lost power and heat during Winter Storm Uri — with over 200 people dying from hypothermia, carbon monoxide poisoning, and other cold-related causes — Energy Transfer earned $2.4 billion in windfall profits by selling natural gas at massively inflated prices. The company's gas infrastructure had not been weatherized despite previous freeze events, contributing to the supply shortages that caused the crisis. Warren later told shareholders that the freeze was "like hitting the jackpot." After the crisis, Warren donated millions to Abbott, who signed legislation that protected energy companies from grid failure liability while shifting costs to consumers. The Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) battle brought Energy Transfer international attention. The pipeline, which carries crude oil from North Dakota's Bakken formation to Illinois, crosses beneath Lake Oahe near the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's reservation. The tribe and thousands of supporters protested for months, arguing that a pipeline break would contaminate their water supply. The Obama administration delayed the pipeline, but the Army Corps of Engineers granted the final permit on January 24, 2017 — four days after Trump's inauguration and after Energy Transfer had contributed to his campaign. The pipeline has since experienced multiple leaks, validating the tribe's concerns. Energy Transfer operates one of the largest pipeline networks in America, transporting natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids across 125,000+ miles of pipeline. With $80 billion in annual revenue and 12,000 employees, the company's operations span the Permian Basin, Gulf Coast, and Midwest. Every new pipeline requires permits from FERC, the Army Corps of Engineers, and state regulators — making government relationships essential to the business model. Warren's donations extend beyond individual politicians to include dark money organizations and state-level PACs that support fossil fuel-friendly candidates. The company's $5 million in 2024 lobbying and $10 million in political spending target pipeline regulators and energy committee members. Environmental violations across Energy Transfer's pipeline network include spills, leaks, and unauthorized construction, resulting in millions of dollars in fines — amounts that represent rounding errors on the company's profits.