Big Energy, Environmental Crimes, and Sustainability: an Analysis of How
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Big Energy, Environmental Crimes, and Sustainability: An Analysis of How Corporations Frame Environmental Issues amid Criminal Prosecutions A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts Victoria R. Ream April 2017 © 2017 Victoria R. Ream. All Rights Reserved. 2 This thesis titled Big Energy, Environmental Crimes, and Sustainability: An Analysis of How Corporations Frame Environmental Issues amid Criminal Prosecutions by VICTORIA R. REAM has been approved for the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and the College of Arts and Sciences by Stephen J. Scanlan Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Robert Frank Dean, College of Arts and Sciences 3 ABSTRACT REAM, VICTORIA R., M.A., April 2017, Sociology Big Energy, Environmental Crimes, and Sustainability: An Analysis of How Corporations Frame Environmental Issues amid Criminal Prosecutions Director of Thesis: Stephen J. Scanlan This thesis examines the two top greenhouse gas emitters in the United States, Duke Energy and American Electric Power. Social constructionism, framing, greenwashing, state-corporate crime framework, and techniques of neutralization theories are used to understand the manner in which these corporations construct claims about sustainable business practices, criminality, and the political climate. This research uses qualitative content analysis methods to explore the claims-making of these corporations, specifically in regards to the global issue of man-made climate change. I argue that Duke Energy and American Electric Power mislead consumers, investors, and the general public; they construct an appearance of being a proactive entity that values sustainability, compliance, and efficiency. In truth, both have multiple civil and criminal cases and millions of dollars in fines and violations due to violations of environmental regulatory laws; and many of the changes made to their business practices are only to meet minimum standards of federal law. They also have a large influence within the politics, as exemplified with the polluter-industrial complex. Further, this research discusses the importance of holding corporations responsible for the harms produced, which affect ecosystems, animals, and society. 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to acknowledge my parents—Denise and Tom—for supporting me, encouraging me, and always having confidence in me, even when I did not. My best friend Macey, who listened to my successes and hardships during the process nearly every day for the last two years. I also want to acknowledge Abdul for making my life brighter when I needed relief. An extended thank you to my family and friends; without my support system, I would not be able to do this! To Jackie and Haley, thank you for being incredible colleagues as we all wrote theses and instructed our college classes for the first time; I am thankful we have become friends along the way. To Dr. Stephen J. Scanlan, my committee chair, I greatly appreciate all of your advice, guidance, and insight throughout this project, and also for helping me in my future endeavors. I could not have asked for a better experience in this program. To my additional committee members, Dr. Kelly Faust and Dr. Jieli Li, thank you for your critiques which allowed me to present an improved and stronger and final product. I have grown significantly in my time at Ohio University because of the exceptional professors here. I am extremely thankful for everything. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgments............................................................................................................... 4 List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... 7 List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... 8 Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 2: Literature Review ............................................................................................ 13 Social Construction and Social Problems ................................................................... 13 Constructing Climate Change ..................................................................................... 14 Climate Change Deniability ........................................................................................ 22 Climate Change as a Crime......................................................................................... 27 Techniques of Neutralization ...................................................................................... 33 Climate Change and Inequality ................................................................................... 34 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 36 Chapter 3: Methods ........................................................................................................... 38 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 38 Gathering Data ............................................................................................................ 38 Analyzing Data ........................................................................................................... 40 Advantages and Disadvantages of Methods ............................................................... 41 Chapter 4: Findings ........................................................................................................... 43 Sustainable Business Practices ................................................................................... 44 Criminality .................................................................................................................. 54 Political Climate.......................................................................................................... 70 Political Action Committees (PACs) .................................................................... 71 Lobbying ............................................................................................................... 74 Discussion ................................................................................................................... 78 Chapter 5: Conclusion and Limitations ............................................................................ 84 Concluding Remarks ................................................................................................... 84 Implications................................................................................................................. 87 Limitations .................................................................................................................. 89 References ......................................................................................................................... 91 6 Appendix A: List of Acronyms....................................................................................... 105 Appendix B: Duke Energy Sources ................................................................................ 106 Appendix C: American Electric Power Sources ............................................................. 107 Appendix D: Clean Air Task Force Map ........................................................................ 108 7 LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1: Defining Climate Change .................................................................................. 16 Table 2: Company Environment Website ........................................................................ 46 Table 3: Duke Energy Environmental Regulatory Citations ........................................... 60 Table 4: Duke Energy and AEP’s State-Corporate Crime Framework ........................... 65 8 LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1: American Electric Power PAC Spending 2004-2016 Election Cycles ............. 71 Figure 2: Duke Energy PAC Spending 2004-2016 Election Cycles. ............................... 72 Figure 3: American Electric Power Lobbying Spending 2004-2016 Election Cycles ..... 74 Figure 4: Duke Energy Lobbying Spending 2004-2016 Election Cycles ......................... 75 Figure 5: AEP Greenwashing Images. .............................................................................. 82 Figure 6: Duke Energy Greenwashing Images ................................................................. 83 9 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION The 44th president of The United States of America, Barack Obama, proclaimed “no challenge exposes a greater threat to future generations than climate change” (Park, 2015). Climate change refers to a state of climate that can be identified by changes in the mean and/or variability of its properties that persists for an extended period of decades or longer. It may be due to natural internal processes or external forces related to anthropogenic changes in the composition of atmosphere or land (IPCC, 2012). The evidence of climate change is abundant, yet there is a need for social scientists to address the countless connections between this particular environmental issue and society. Social