Kansas AG Calls for DOJ Probe into Chinese 'Environmental Lawfare' Against U.S. Energy

Kansas Attorney General Calls for DOJ Investigation into Energy Foundation China

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach has taken a strong stance against what he believes is a foreign influence operation targeting the United States energy sector. In a recent letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Kobach urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate the Energy Foundation China (EFC), citing concerns that the organization is closely tied to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and is actively working to undermine American energy producers.

Kobach accused EFC of funneling millions in funding to environmental groups, which he claims use this financial support to file climate-related lawsuits and push for legislation that weakens U.S. energy producers. He emphasized that while EFC presents itself as a nonprofit based in San Francisco, its operations are largely centered in Beijing, with staff members having close ties to the CCP.

“This connection suggests that EFC’s actions align with China’s strategic interests in promoting alternative energy systems where it controls critical supply chains for minerals, batteries, solar panels, and other essential technologies,” Kobach wrote in his letter. “This raises serious questions about the organization’s true motives and its potential role in advancing foreign interests at the expense of U.S. energy independence.”

The attorney general also referenced a recent Senate hearing where he and other lawmakers, including Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), expressed concerns that EFC is being used by the CCP to weaken U.S. energy operations both in courtrooms and state legislatures. There are also fears that the organization may be influencing higher education institutions to further its agenda.

“China’s involvement through EFC represents a new dimension in the ongoing ‘climate lawfare’ campaign in U.S. courts,” Kobach stated. “When these legal actions are linked to a foreign adversary like China, it likely signals an attack on American energy independence. Multiple federal laws are in place to prevent such foreign interference, misdirection, and economic sabotage.”

Kobach’s call for an investigation has been supported by groups like State Armor, a nonprofit focused on global security issues. The group has long raised concerns about alleged Chinese efforts to undermine the U.S. energy industry. A recent report titled “Who Is Energy Foundation China?” highlighted the organization’s funding sources and its suspected ties to the CCP.

State Armor CEO Michael Lucci praised Kobach’s actions, calling EFC a “CCP sock puppet” that is undermining American energy independence through a combination of funded influence operations and legal campaigns. He described the situation as a dangerous form of foreign interference, where China is using non-profits and left-wing environmental groups to push its agenda through U.S. courts and universities.

“No sane country would allow its strategic adversary to damage its national security, control its energy supply chains, and insert kill switches into its energy grid,” Lucci said. “While some may call this ‘green energy,’ in reality, it's largely ‘red tech’ controlled by the CCP, full of vulnerabilities that could disrupt our energy systems.”

Broader Implications of China’s Green Energy Strategy

State Armor’s concerns come amid growing scrutiny of China’s broader strategy in the green energy sector. Some analysts, including those at the Heritage Foundation, argue that China’s support for certain green energy policies is part of a larger plan to turn its energy resource weaknesses into advantages. Beijing’s dominance in global supply chains for critical components such as batteries, turbines, and rare earth minerals gives it significant leverage over the U.S. and other countries.

These critics claim that Chinese-linked environmental charities have effectively “hijacked” the U.S. environmental movement to serve Beijing’s interests. They warn that this influence extends beyond policy debates and into the legal system, where foreign-backed groups may be shaping regulations and litigation outcomes that favor China’s strategic goals.

As the debate over energy independence and foreign influence continues, the role of organizations like EFC remains under intense scrutiny. With growing concerns about the potential for foreign adversaries to manipulate U.S. energy policy, the call for transparency and accountability is becoming more urgent.