Nessel’s fossil fuel suit would crush Michigan

Detroit news
| Detroit news

In a shortsighted and damaging decision, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that she intends to sue the fossil fuel industry over its alleged contributions to climate change.

Nessel chose a giant to fight in a country that was built and still relies on the automotive and heavy industries.

Such efforts do not serve the public interest.

The attorney general argues that the oil and gas industry profited from knowingly selling products that harmed the climate, environment, infrastructure and human health. It follows what other cities and states across the United States have done by arguing a range of damages, from securities fraud to nuisance, negligence and torts.

The long-term impact of such a move on Michigan’s economy would be extremely damaging.

Michigan’s hospitals, nursing facilities, schools, homes and businesses rely on energy infrastructure built by the oil and gas industry, as does the knowledge-based, high-skills economy that the Whitmer administration touted as crucial to our future.

Using taxpayer resources to launch a campaign for a politically popular cause of climate change is irresponsible.

This mischaracterization of one of the state’s most important infrastructure and economic growth components vastly misrepresents the benefits that reliable and affordable energy has brought to Michigan.

Other states largely targeted large corporations such as BP, ExxonMobil and Shell.

Nessel said Michigan is unlikely to focus on the same companies but will consider utilities and other industries linked to climate-changing pollutants.

The threat Nessel has created holds great promise for trial lawyers, who stand to benefit financially from a contingency-fee lawsuit structure.

But wasting taxpayer dollars on such a frivolous and harmful pursuit is reckless, especially given that courts have already questioned the logic and legitimacy of lawsuits that seek to arbitrarily discriminate over climate change.

Consider Vermont, which in May became the first state to order fossil fuel companies to pay for climate damages. The state treasurer has been directed to submit a report by January 2026 on the cost of greenhouse gas emissions to Vermonters over the past two decades – including impacts on public health, agriculture, housing and other sectors.

There is no industry that such a ruling in Michigan could not impact.

The Whitmer administration and Democrats have touted the need to keep and grow jobs in Michigan, promising to subsidize a slew of projects and initiatives to help build the state’s economy.

Michigan will never win the talent game nationally or globally if it tries to destroy the companies and jobs it claims to want.

Nessel’s campaign diverges from the reality of what keeps Michigan’s homes, schools and businesses running, as well as what residents and industry critically need.