"EPA Asked Heartland For Experts Who Question Climate Science"

"The Heartland Institute has found an ally in U.S. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt as he seeks to portray climate science as a debate.

While a number of conservative think tanks employ scientists or economists to discredit mainstream climate science, the Illinois-based Heartland Institute has a stable of them. It's devoted years to crafting an alternative body of climate change research that exists outside the prevailing view of scientists. Now, President Trump's administration may give the libertarian group its greatest influence in years.

In the field of climate science, researchers determined decades ago that humans are warming the planet at an unprecedented rate through the burning of fossil fuels. But Pruitt has questioned those foundational findings, claiming instead that humanity's influence is uncertain and should be debated publicly.

So EPA has reached out to Heartland for a list of its researchers, Heartland spokesman Jim Lakely said."

Scott Waldman reports for ClimateWire September 21, 2017.