According to a recent post on TPM, “Microsoft said on Tuesday that it will end its involvement with the American Legislative Exchange Council, the conservative advocacy group, reportedly because of the group's lobbying against renewable energy.

"With this decision, we no longer contribute any dues to ALEC," it said…

“Microsoft joins Coca-Cola, General Motors, Bank of America, and Proctor & Gamble as some of the major corporations that have severed their relationship with ALEC, according to CNET. Others -- like Google, Facebook, eBay, Yahoo, and Yelp -- remain involved with the group.

“CNET linked Microsoft's decision with ALEC's bid to stop renewable energy projects. As The Guardian reported last year, Microsoft has begun investing in renewable energy, including an announcement that it would run one of its data centers entirely with electricity produced by a wind farm in Texas.

“ALEC, which has been around since the 1970's, gained renewed national attention after Republicans scored major gains in state governments in 2010 and the group's signature model legislation began appearing in statehouses nationwide. “This is proof positive of the depth and scope of the corporate reach into our democratic processes," Bob Edgar, president of the liberal advocacy group Common Cause, said in 2011 of the group's activities.” For more information on ALEC, see Dick Conoboy's article from earlier this year on NWCitizen.

Deb Gaber