Detroit News. June 22, 2024.
Editorial: Nessel’s fossil fuel suit would crush Michigan
In a short-sighted and damaging decision, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced she intends to sue the fossil fuel industry over its alleged contributions to climate change.
Nessel has picked a behemoth of a fight in a state that has been built on and continues to rely on the automotive industry and heavy manufacturing.
Such an effort does not serve the public interest.
The attorney general argues the oil and gas industry profited while knowingly selling products that damaged the climate, environment, infrastructure and people’s health. She’s mimicking what other cities and states across the U.S. have done arguing an array of damages from securities fraud to nuisance, negligence and tort.
The long-term impact of such a move on Michigan’s economy would be hugely detrimental.
Michigan’s hospitals, care centers, schools, homes and businesses rely on the power infrastructure the oil and gas industry has built, as does the knowledge-based, high-skills economy the Whitmer administration has touted as vital to our future.
Leveraging taxpayer resources to launch a campaign for the politically popular cause of climate change is irresponsible.
Such a mischaracterization of one of the state’s most important pieces of infrastructure and economic growth massively misrepresents the benefits affordable and reliable power have brought to Michigan.
Other states largely have targeted big corporations, such as BP, ExxonMobil and Shell.
Nessel said Michigan is unlikely to target the same companies but would consider utilities and other industries connected to climate-changing pollution.
The threat Nessel has leveled holds big promise for trial attorneys, who stand to benefit financially from the contingency-fee structure of the lawsuit.
But wasting taxpayer dollars on such a frivolous and injurious pursuit is reckless, especially considering courts have already questioned the logic and standing of lawsuits that attempt to discriminate arbitrarily over climate change.
Consider Vermont, which became the first state in May to order fossil fuel companies to pay for climate damages. The state’s treasurer has been ordered to provide a report by January 2026 on the cost of greenhouse gas emissions to Vermont residents over the past two decades — looking at effects on public health, agriculture, housing and other sectors.
There is no industry such a ruling in Michigan would not be able to touch.
The Whitmer administration and Democrats have been touting the need for Michigan to retain and grow jobs, promising to subsidize a plethora of projects and initiatives to help build up the state’s economy.
Michigan will never win the talent game nationally or globally if it seeks to destroy the businesses and the very jobs it claims to want.
Nessel’s campaign is out of line with the reality of what keeps Michigan’s homes, schools and businesses functioning — and it’s out of touch with what residents and industries here critically need.
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