A moderate Harris VP contender sought to use left-wing "mercenaries" to undermine the rust belt energy industry.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who is reportedly being considered as a potential vice presidential candidate for Kamala Harris, previously applied for the position of state attorney general as part of a Michael Bloomberg-funded initiative to appoint special prosecutors targeting the energy sector in his state.

The NYU Law School's State Energy and Environmental Impact Center was involved in a "remarkable arrangement" during the Trump administration, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, where climate activists were placed in Attorneys General offices in private-public condominiums.

In 2017, a $6 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies was launched to promote a liberal climate and energy policy.

In several jurisdictions, including Connecticut, Illinois, New Mexico, and Washington, D.C., the program, funded by Bloomberg, has placed attorneys who specialize in climate issues and litigating against oil and gas companies.

The State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at NYU Law supports state attorneys general in defending, enforcing, and promoting strong laws and policies in the areas of climate, environmental justice, environmental protection, and clean energy, according to the program's website.

In his 2018 application for the program, Shapiro's office stated that Pennsylvania's energy production is largely based on coal burning. This "Pennsylvania perspective" offers a unique and powerful platform for creating progressive environmental legal and policy change from within.

In other words, although many states advocate for progressive environmental legislation, the influence of an environmental leader like Attorney General Josh Shapiro is even more significant in a state that relies heavily on coal-burning and gas extraction, where environmental action may not always be politically popular.

"The prompt for the application advises state attorneys general to specify the specific requirements of their offices in relation to the promotion and protection of progressive clean energy, climate change, and environmental matters. The application should include information on the extent to which funding or capacity limitations have hindered the office's ability to work on these issues and how additional dedicated support could aid in advancing the work of the state attorney general on behalf of his or her constituents."

"State attorneys general who show a dedication to and urgent requirement for extra assistance on clean energy, climate change, and environmental problems of regional or national significance, such as those issues that transcend jurisdictional boundaries or present legal dilemmas or disputes with nationwide implications, will receive priority consideration."

Shapiro's office stated that he requires additional "financial support" to remain a leader in "forward-thinking" climate initiatives.

Economic resources are necessary for leading environmental protection efforts, as Pennsylvania attorneys general in the past did not prioritize this issue.

"Due to the smaller size of the environmental section inherited by Attorney General Shapiro, granting Pennsylvania's application will be particularly significant. This will enable the PA OAG to join other states in challenging the Trump Administration's efforts to weaken environmental regulations and to hire one or more SAAGs to be more proactive and serve as the lead plaintiff in future actions."

A spokesperson for the State Impact Center confirmed to Planet Chronicle Digital that Shapiro had applied and was denied, but the group does not have a record of why the application did not progress.

"The SAAG program of the State Impact Center provides additional resources for attorneys general to use at their discretion, and attorneys general are responsible for directing the work of the SAAGs, with their sole duty of loyalty being to the office in which they work."

Pennsylvania Republican Congressman Guy Reschenthaler stated on Planet Chronicle Digital that Shapiro's hiring of a "Bloomberg-funded, unaccountable prosecutor to target energy producers and job creators in Pennsylvania is reprehensible."

"Pennsylvania ranks second in natural gas production, third in coal production, and third in electricity production. It is a fact that our commonwealth powers the nation. However, Democrats in our state, led by Governor Josh Shapiro and Vice President Harris, consistently attack our energy industry and the 130,000 good-paying, union jobs it supports. Vice President Harris even stated, "There's no question I'm in favor of banning fracking.""

Rejecting the Green New Deal agenda is crucial for our communities' livelihoods and America's energy independence, as far-left influences seek to destroy it.

The Wall Street Journal stated that it is clear that ethical issues exist with SAAGs.

In 2020, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, one of a few Republican attorneys general who have raised concerns about the Bloomberg-funded program, stated that it raises fundamental ethical questions and questions about who runs our government.

"If an attorney general office pays someone to follow a specific agenda while they are in the office, it raises questions about whether there are multiple masters at play, which can have a foul odor."

As VP Harris' search for a vice president nears its end, Shapiro has been described as a "moderate" and "practical" since becoming governor. Politico referred to him as having "struck a middle" ground on an issue that affects hundreds of thousands of energy workers in the commonwealth. However, his past rhetoric could pose a challenge to his candidacy.

Over the years, Bloomberg has consistently expressed his stance on climate change through various statements, such as advocating for the eradication of all coal-fired power plants and phasing out gas-powered plants.

Chris Horner, a Washington-based attorney who worked with Energy Policy Advocates on public records requests into the State Impact Center's activities, claims that the group's self-declared "nonpartisan" label is a smokescreen that allows it to pursue ideologically motivated, "progressive" goals with SAAGs he labeled "mercenaries."

""Ideological, not partisan. You only need to promise to use mercenaries to advance progressive climate legal positions," he said."

Kamala Harris, presumptive Democratic nominee, initially called for a fracking ban but later reversed her stance after becoming the nominee.

According to Dan Weaver, president and executive director of the Pennsylania Independent Oil & Gas Association, elected officials who have previously expressed opposition to oil and natural gas development, including banning all hydraulic fracturing in the U.S., often gain a new perspective on the importance of these energy sources to our nation when presented with facts from objective sources rather than emotional appeals during their campaigns.

"Natural gas accounts for more than one-third of our country's electricity production, and there is no practical or cost-effective substitute to meet the growing demand for energy from consumers, data centers, and economic growth," he stated.

"The majority of our vehicle fleet is fueled by American-refined gasoline and diesel, which will continue to be the trend for many years. Replacing this with imported oil from other countries would be expensive and uncertain. Additionally, over 6,000 consumer, medical, and transportation-related products rely on the processing of oil and natural gas, making their role in supporting a modern society crucial and cannot be dismissed with a brief statement about banning fracking."

Weaver stated that "PIOGA agrees with Gov. Shapiro, Senator John Fetterman, and Vice-President Kamala Harris, among others, that oil and natural gas are crucial to our country when presented with the relevant information."

Shapiro's office did not respond to Planet Chronicle Digital's request for comment.

Planet Chronicle Digital's Tyler Olson contributed to this report.