The head of the Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy blasted corporate influence on environmentalists in the wake of reports that the Sierra Club accepted $25 million from a gas drilling and fracking company.

"This is an example of the lateral influence that corporations can exert," said FARE executive director Mike Antheil.

"As if direct influence on our lawmakers isn’t enough, the fossil fuel and utility industries have found an even more effective way to silence their opponents. By donating small fortunes to every nonprofit group on the street, the special interests put muzzles on groups that would otherwise vehemently protest their actions," Antheil said.

But Antheil wasn't ready to throw Florida's Sierra clubbers under the bus just yet.

"The members of the local Florida Sierra club chapters are about the purist, most incorruptible advocates I have ever met," he said.

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