Dominion Energy's 564-mile Atlantic Coast pipeline would come through this area of the Shenandoah Valley in Augusta County, Virginia.

(The Washington Post via Getty Images)

At a Glance

Your Energy Virginiatouts itself as a grassroots organization.It is funded by the American Gas Association and other 'related organizations.'

Thegas industry has launched a fake "grassroots" organization to funnel its message to Virginia residentsahead of a key November gubernatorialelection.

Launched in April,touts itself as a grassroots organizationbutis funded by the American Gas Association and other "related organizations," as noted on its .

"We are a community of Virginians who believe natural gas is bringing our Commonwealth cleaner air, ," according to the organization's Facebook profile. "We are working to get the truth out about natural gas while pushing back against misinformation."

On its website: "This is your movement. Natural gas helps make your modern life possible. We have to fight back against those who want to deprive us of clean, affordable energy. That’s why we haveYour Energy Virginia."

The website makes clear the group's primary mission is to fight opponents of fossil fuels, which produce, a key driver of climate change. It vows tostand up to "anti-energy opponents, often out-of-state extremists" that are "spreading misinformation and fear to stop natural gas and energy infrastructure."

"Your Energy Virginiawas created to speak out against a misguided movement that assaults our way of life," the website says. "This movement is based on the simplistic belief that keeping our natural resources in the ground is the only solution to climate change. This isn’t just false — it’s dangerous to our quality of life, economy and energy security."

Jim Cheng, who was Virginia’s secretary of commerce and industry under former governor Robert F. McDonnell, spoke in support of the group May 24 at a conference hosted by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, according to an for the Washington Post.

"I am here today assisting a new organization, called Your Energy Virginia, that was created to raise the energy IQ of Virginians about the many benefits of natural gas. And to try to follow on these radical and uninformed elements within your communities ," Cheng said, according to atape recording obtained by the Huffington Post.

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The group is meant to lend a voice for gas and oil amid pushback against . Similar groups have also been formed by the industry to fight opposition to pipeline proposals in New Jersey, Ohio and New England.

Galuszka noted in the op-ed that it is particularly puzzling why the gas industry hascreated the fake organization "when the background of Your Energy Virginia can be so easily traced."

"With the political climate increasingly dicey, one wonders why Virginia’s fossil fuel establishment would take a chance with a phony grassroots group," he wrote. "Let’s hope it’s just a passing phase during the Trump era when honesty, accuracy and transparency temporarily fell off the rails."

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