Oregon has expanded a $50 billion climate lawsuit to include NW Natural, accusing the gas utility of deceiving customers about the environmental harm caused by burning fossil fuels.
Karen Zraick reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- Oregon added NW Natural to a major lawsuit claiming it hid the dangers of fossil fuels from consumers.
- The lawsuit originally targeted oil giants like Exxon and Shell for contributing to climate change.
- Legal experts see this case as part of a broader trend of climate-related lawsuits against energy companies.
Key quote:
Gas utilities have been "significant players in the historic and ongoing deception campaigns to mislead the public about the dangers of fossil fuels.”
— Alyssa Johl, Center for Climate Integrity
Why this matters:
Fossil fuel companies have long been accused of concealing the true environmental costs of their products, which contributes to global warming. Lawsuits like this could reshape how these companies are held accountable for climate change-related disasters.
Related: Oregon’s biggest gas company isn’t as green as it claims
