Attorney General Gentner Drummond finally offered comments over the legal action he took last week in going to the U.S. Supreme Court in a challenge of the climate litigation against the oil and gas industry undertaken by California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey and Rhode Island.
He accused the states of trying to dictate America’s energy policies by “wasteful litigation” and suing energy companies and demanding billions of dollars in damages, a story reported last week by OK Energy Today.
As litigation proceeds in their state courts, California and the other states threaten to impose ruinous penalties and coercive remedies that would affect energy and fuel consumption and production across the country.
Drummond is part of a 19-state coalition raising the significant constitutional problems with California’s extraordinary tactics and asking the Supreme Court to take up a multi-state lawsuit.
“This wasteful litigation by five states is a brazen attempt to hobble energy policies that positively impact our country,” Drummond said “The energy industry is key to a thriving Oklahoma and nation. No single state – or even five – should be allowed to dictate what is right for another state. I will always defend what is right for Oklahomans.”
The Supreme Court will decide whether to hear the lawsuit against California and the other four proposed defendants. The coalition’s motion, complaint and brief argue that traditional energy sources like oil and natural gas are essential for American prosperity. The states also argue that the matter is of utmost importance because our system of federalism gives each state no more power than any other state.
The Alabama-led motion was joined by attorneys general in Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Read the filing here.
