Microsoft shares lobbyists or lobbying firms with fossil fuel companies in 25 states, according to a new report from F Minus, including companies such as Chevron, Duke Energy, and Baltimore Gas & Electric that are lobbying against holding data centers accountable for their impacts on the environment and rising electricity prices.
The report comes as Microsoft shareholders are being asked to vote on a resolution calling on the company to assess the risks of its AI contracts with oil and gas companies. Microsoft describes itself as a “first mover” on climate issues and has touted the benefits of its AI for developing climate solutions and new tools for detecting and treating cancer. But on behalf of their fossil fuel clients, Microsoft’s lobbyists in these 25 states are promoting dirty energy projects whose emissions are carcinogenic.
Key findings:
- In Maryland, Microsoft shares the firm Harris Jones Malone with Baltimore Gas & Electric, which in 2025 opposed legislation to limit the use of gas in new buildings, and helped convince Gov. Wes Moore (D) to veto a bill (HB 270) that would have created a commission to study data center impacts.
- In Florida, Microsoft shares the firm SBM Advocates with Duke Energy, which in 2024 helped pass a bill that banned onshore and offshore wind energy projects in the state, and struck the term “climate change” from many state regulations. In a Jan. 2025 letter to EPA Director Lee Zeldin, cited the need to power AI systems as one of several reasons for scrapping limits on GHG emissions and coal ash pollution at its Florida power plants.
- In California, Microsoft shares the firm Sacramento Advocates with Chevron, which in 2025 used a different firm, Sloat Higgins Jensen, to oppose a Data Center Impact Study (SB 57). Meanwhile the Data Center Coalition, in which MIcrosoft is a member, helped convince Gov. Newsom to veto a bill to monitor water usage by data centers (SB 93).
- In Idaho, Microsoft shares the firm Lobby Idaho with Idaho Power, which in 2025 helped defeat a bill requiring data centers to provide their own electricity, then proposed a 17% rate increase for its customers.
“The climate and health problems that Microsoft is proposing to solve with AI are being caused, to some degree, by Microsoft lobbyists who also lobby for fossil fuel companies,” said James Browning, Executive Director of F Minus. “As Microsoft’s shareholders consider the risk of its AI contracts with oil and gas companies, they should also consider the risks of hiring lobbying firms who’ve spent years promoting climate denialism on behalf of their oil and gas client, and are now waging a campaign of denialism about the environmental impacts of data centers.”
The report also profiles Microsoft firms who represent fossil fuel companies in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Alabama, and Arkansas. The complete list of all Microsoft firms who also lobby for fossil fuel companies is available here.