Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has a message for New York’s Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul….he thinks her state’s climate law targeting oil and gas companies is an ” illogical environmental agenda.”
As a result, Drummond joined 21 other attorneys general in suing New York over its Climate Superfund Act and its plan to force energy companies to pay $75 billlion in penalties.
“New York is trying to punish energy producers, including Oklahoma’s robust oil and gas companies, for legally conducting business that benefitted New York itself. This law is not only unconstitutional, it’s pure hypocrisy,” Drummond said.
“While New York was happily using fossil fuels to power its state, Oklahoma energy companies were providing reliable, affordable energy and creating thousands of good jobs. I won’t stand by while New York’s illogical environmental agenda attempts to bankrupt our energy industry and threaten the livelihoods of Oklahoma workers.”
The law requires major oil, gas and coal companies to pay billions of dollars based on their greenhouse gas emissions from 2000 to 2018. The lawsuit points out that New York relied on coal, oil and natural gas during that time, keeping the lights on for New York City’s iconic skyscrapers and beyond.
The litigation warns that this law could force many energy companies, including a number based in Oklahoma, to shut down operations. The Empire State plans to use the money collected for various climate-related projects, including storm water systems and wetland restoration.
The coalition of attorneys general filed their lawsuit Feb. 6 and are asking the court to, among other things, issue an injunction and declare the Act preempted by federal statutes.
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Inc., the West Virginia Coal Association, the Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia, and America’s Coal Associations joined the lawsuit.
