“Michigan is facing an energy affordability crisis as our household energy costs skyrocket, and consumers are left without affordable transportation options. Whether you own a home, a small business, or run a large corporation, rising energy and transportation costs hurt everyone,” Nessel said. He said In a statement.
She continued: “These out-of-control costs are not a result of natural economic inflation, but due to the greed of these companies that have prioritized their profits and market dominance over competition and consumer savings.”
As the complaint says: “Defendants are four of the world’s largest energy companies and the largest trade association in their industry. Defendants in the fossil fuel business produce fossil fuels and have at times invested in clean energy products and related technologies, such as solar energy and batteries, that can provide energy to power buildings, infrastructure, and automobiles as an alternative to fossil fuels.”
“But for decades, defendants have conspired with each other to prevent meaningful competition from renewable energy and maintain their dominance in the energy market,” the filing continues. “They did so as a monopoly, agreeing to reduce the production and distribution of electricity from renewable sources and to restrict the emergence of electric vehicles and renewable primary energy technologies in the United States.”
“To this end,” the document details, “they abandoned renewable energy projects, used patent litigation to hobble competitors, suppressed information about the hidden costs of fossil fuels and the feasibility of alternatives, infiltrated and deliberately misdirected information-producing institutions, surveilled and intimidated oversight agencies and public officials, and used trade associations to coordinate market-level efforts to shift capital expenditures away from renewable energy—all in furtherance of one of their most successful antitrust operations.” Conspiracies in the History of the United States.”
Taking this case with others previously filed against fossil fuel companies and API, Ryan Myers, senior vice president and general counsel of the trade group, said: He said In a statement to Detroit News “These baseless lawsuits are a coordinated campaign against an industry that supports daily life, drives the American economy, and actively works to reduce emissions.”
While Shell refused to comment on this ReutersBP and Exxon did not respond, and Chevron’s lawyer, Theodore Boutros Jr., described the lawsuit as “baseless as evidenced by multiple dismissals by the relevant court.” He said The news agency said it “ignores the fact that Michigan relies heavily on oil and gas to support automakers and workers in the state.”
According to Nessel’s complaint: “In the world that would have existed but for Defendants’ conspiracy, electric vehicles would no longer be a fringe technology or a luxury alternative. Rather, they would be a common sight in every neighborhood — rolling off assembly lines in Flint, parked in driveways in Dearborn, charging outside grocery stores in Grand Rapids, and quietly running down Woodward Avenue.”
“Reliable and fast chargers will be integrated into the new development and will be ubiquitous at highway rest stops and converted gas stations,” the report states. “A household in need of a car will have dozens of affordable electric options, and the renewable energy needed to efficiently power EVs will be made available at scale – integrated into the grid or delivered through a dedicated 100% renewable grid – driven by public and private investments that respond to competitive market signals.”
“Michigan residents will also have additional renewable energy options to provide primary energy to their homes and businesses, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal; these options will improve reliability, reduce costs to Michiganders, and reduce reliance on natural gas, fuel oil, and propane,” the document adds.
Tim Minotas, Legislative and Policy Director of the Michigan Sierra Club, Welcome Deposit. he He said In a statement, “At a time when the federal government is rolling back important environmental protections and families are facing an energy affordability crisis, we applaud Attorney General Nessel for standing with the people of Michigan and holding major fossil fuel companies accountable.”
“In Michigan, these companies have used their outsized political influence to maintain the status quo and pave the way for a wave of energy-intensive data center projects across the state, even as renewable energy remains the cheapest source of new energy and what Michiganders deserve,” he noted. “For too long, fossil fuel companies and public utilities have polluted Michigan’s air, water and land while raising energy costs for families. This action sends a clear message: Michigan’s families and communities must come before corporate profits.”
Richard Wells, president of the Center for Climate Safety, too celebrate Development: “The groundbreaking Michigan case exposes how Big Oil conspired to deprive Americans of cleaner, cheaper energy options and make life less expensive by keeping consumers addicted to dirty fossil fuel products. Eleven states and dozens of municipalities are now fighting to take Big Oil to court for their climate lies and make them pay for the damage they have caused.”
“Big Oil is scrambling to keep their climate lies out of juries in cases like Michigan, which is why the fossil fuel industry is now lobbying Congress for a get-out-of-jail-free card,” Wiles added, referring to the push for a so-called liability shield. “Congress must protect the right of the people of Michigan and every state to hold Big Oil accountable for the damage caused by their climate lies.”
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