The Kent Beuchert Affair: Bias and Corporate Lobbying on a Science Blog Energy Blog sponsored by Shell?

... Or just some kind of odd Internet Shenanigans.

It turns out that if there is an organized effort to bias the discussion, it may be coming from the usual place ... the trolls...

As I've been following the new energy blog on Sb, something seemed odd. Tiny pieces of evidence filtered together ... a memory here, a memory there ... and suddenly it became apparent that one of the commenters on Sceicneblogs new energy blog "Next Generation Energy" not only rang a bell, but indeed might be ringing numerous bells.

I'm talking about Kent Beuchert. Kent is always there on the internet when the discussion turns to electric cars (he seems to not like them) and there are others who claim that he is some sort of corporate drone working for for an anti-global warming lobbying group. Unfortunately, the individuals who claim this are themselves just as enigmatic with respect to their own identity. Either way, it is an interesting story that has been going on for some time now.

Kent's comments on the Next Gen blog ... here and here (there may be others).

Consider the following items off the internet:

These are Kent's comments off of the autoblog site. They are generally pessimistic on alternative energy cars.

Here's a comment by Kent on "The E-Flex Auto Revolution" ... a blog on Ecoworld:

I've seen many articles on the Chevy VOLT and can say, as an electric car enthsuiast, that it is, as mentioned in the article, ideally positioned to move whichever way technology takes it. Tons of available biodiesel and a diesel turbo generator motor is called for, or ethanol powered gasoline engine, or when batteries become available, chuck the engine (figuratively, keep it for emergencies) and install enough batteries to go all-electric. This car doesn't really care whether the infrastructure for recharging yet exists, or not. It's flexible. The EV-1 was a piece of crap. This is brilliant. There are even bridge technologies possible - add enough batteries to get 80 miles of range and do even more to destroy the need for crude. A 40 mile range will absolutely knock the hell out of the gasoline retail business and crude oil imports. THIS is the car (not the pathetic EV-1, or the insignificant Tesla) that the oil exporting nation's leaders stay awake at night worrying about. Or its coming look-a-likes from Toyota, Honda, etc.

Now, following Kent's comment is this comment by David Lassiter:

I agree with Kent Beuchert and look forward to his future positive comments. David Lassiter

David seems to like Kent a little. But David also seems to be a strong and regular appearance on the Internet, following Kent around and telling everyone that he (Kent) is an oil industry lobbyiest (or somethign). Here are a few examples, each from a different web site.

David Lassiter Feb 19th, 2007 at 12:17 am

Kent Beuchert is a fake working for the oil / gas lobby and has posted on hundreds of websites through dummy email accounts (eg - kbeuchert@toast.net). He has been posting for six years on this topic - ridiculously if you think about it. He has made up locations in McLean, VA and Tampa, FL. Please forward any information you may have on him as I am writing a story. Regards - David Lassiter

# David Lassiter Says:
January 14th, 2007 at 7:25 am

Kent Beuchert is a fake working for the oil / gas lobby and has posted on hundreds of websites through dummy email accounts (eg - kbeuchert@toast.net). He has been posting for six years on this topic - ridiculously if you think about it. He has made up locations in McLean, VA and Tampa, FL. Please forward any information you may have on him as I am writing a story. Regards - David Lassiter

Posted by:David Lassiter |February 19, 2007 1:29 AM

Kent Beuchert is a fake working for the oil / gas lobby and has posted on hundreds of websites through dummy email accounts. He has been posting for six years on this topic - ridiculously if you think about it. He has made up locations in McLean, VA and Tampa, FL and goes under the guise of a computer analyst. Please forward any information you may have on him as I am writing a story. Regards - David Lassiter

Posted by:David Lassiter |February 19, 2007 1:29 AM

Each of these follows a comment by Kent that is generally negative on electric cars or whatever.

So, Kent Beuchert is a guy with a passion. Maybe a lobbiest. David Lassider is a guy with as much of a passion ... tracking down Kent wherever he goes! Maybe David is the guy with the job with the lobbyist firm!

In looking around a bit on the Ineternet, I did not find anything to indicate that either of these individuals is a real person. Kent never seems to respond to David when David makes his remarks. Maybe they are the same individual? Maybe Kent will tell us who he is? Or David, when he shows up to tell us about Kent, which he surely will!

I look forward to finding out more...