Earlier this month, House Republicans formed the House Energy Action Team, or “HEAT.” 26 GOP members of Congress joined the group, whose stated mission to is to reduce American dependence on foreign oil and reduce gasoline prices for American consumers.

On the surface, the group’s intentions seem reasonable, but a comprehensive analysis by DeSmogBlog shows that the members of HEAT are using their positions to promote the use of oil and other dirty fossil fuels, rather than promoting the development and use of clean renewable fuel sources.

Among the initiatives that the group took up first are three bills that would expand offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico – an area that will be dealing with the effects of the BP oil disaster for years to come. This combination of bills would end the Obama Administration’s moratorium on new drilling in the Gulf, as well as expedite the leasing process for new drilling permits.

Republican members of HEAT also voted in favor of H.R. 1 earlier this year, which would reduce funding for alternative energy research, as well as strip the EPA of its authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

ThinkProgress compiled a list of the campaign contributions each member of HEAT has received over the course of their careers (which total more than $4 million for all members combined.) It is important to note that all but one of these members voted against repealing the $4 billion in subsidies that the oil industry receives every year. The members are listed below with their career contributions from the oil and gas industry, as well as their positions and proposals on energy and environment throughout their careers:

A few months ago we reported an exclusive story here on DeSmogBlog about the troubles renowned UK columnist and author, George Monbiot, was having with finding a publisher to launch his book Heat in the United States. 

Monbiot told us at the time that U.S. editors had all said a version of the same thing: "Americans aren’t ready for it."

Well it looks like South End Press, a publisher with a penchant for provocative literature, has decided that the American public is "ready." Monbiot's book is now available in the US.

Guardian columnist George Monbiot , with whom we shared a delicious dinner while he was in Vancouver signing books, says that U.S. publishing houses have so far spurned his bestselling (in the UK and Canada) Heat: How to Stop the Planet from Burning.

George says the U.S. editors have all said a version of the same thing: "Americans aren’t ready for it."