Americans — from nonprofit groups to the Rockefeller family — are starting to fight back against the petroleum industry, which is earning record profits as consumers face spiraling gas prices.

66 of 78 adult heirs of John D. Rockefeller, who founded the company’s predecessor, Standard Oil, supported four resolutions aimed at making the oil giant hew a more environmentally friendly

Exxon saw a record $40.6 billion profit in 2007

“We think a few of those billions should go towards looking to the future

also includes

institutional investors

whose managers fear that the company’s refusal to look beyond carbon fuels could lead to its downfall.

demanding that API forgo a planned multi-million dollar public relations campaign in favor of investment in alternative energy sources

“The best public relations your industry could buy would be to take the funds you have earmarked for this campaign and spend them, starting today, to create and bring to market renewable, sustainable energy sources.”