Watchdog group urges Wilton Simpson to investigate energy nonprofits’ ties to China

A federal watchdog says the Energy Foundation China (EF China) and U.S. Energy Foundation (US EF) violated Florida fundraising regulations.

Americans for Public Trust ( APT ), a group focused on foreign dark money fundraising, sent a letter to Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson alleging the nonprofit groups broke Florida’s Solicitation of Contributions Act . That requires any nonprofits soliciting donations in Florida to register with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs — and now bars registered entities from taking money from any “foreign source of concern.”

“EF China, an organization ‘that works with the Chinese government on climate change issues,’ is one of the most prolific processers of foreign dark money,” wrote Caitlin Sutherland , Executive