Climate change advocates are leveraging lawsuits in state and local courts to influence national energy policies and economic priorities. O.H. Skinner, a conservative consumer advocate, warns that these legal actions could have significant impacts on the domestic oil industry and related sectors, such as car manufacturing. The Trump administration has responded by issuing an executive order targeting state and local lawsuits against domestic energy producers, with Attorney General Pam Bondi instructed to take action against such laws. This includes ongoing litigation against four blue states, including New York and Hawaii, over unconstitutional climate-related laws. Skinner highlights the broader implications of these lawsuits, which could extend beyond fossil fuels to influence national policy through the courts.
Our Children’s Trust, an Oregon-based nonprofit, is actively litigating several cases on behalf of youth plaintiffs, emphasizing the benefits of clean energy like wind and solar, which they claim are cheaper and healthier alternatives. The group argues that wind and solar energy are not only the most abundant sources of energy but also the cheapest available today, thanks to American ingenuity. They highlight that clean energy was the fastest-growing energy sector in Texas last year, and that families who pay the electricity bill will spend less for every fossil fuel replaced by wind and solar. Additionally, they point out that medical doctors say these energy sources can help prevent asthma in children and create healthier communities.
Skinner expressed concern over the potential overreach of these lawsuits, noting that they could affect not just the fossil fuel industry but also other sectors like car manufacturing. He warned that if courts in states like Oregon declare climate change a public nuisance, it could lead to substantial financial commitments from energy companies for green initiatives, potentially leading to a decline in new oil fields, drilling, and production. The ongoing case in Oregon, Multonomah County, which seeks $52 billion in damages against oil companies, exemplifies the scale of these legal efforts. Skinner believes that if such judgments are secured, they could have a profound effect on the energy industry nationwide. The Trump administration’s legal actions, including lawsuits against blue states, aim to counter these efforts by ensuring that state laws do not interfere with the domestic energy sector.