HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Trump administration is taking legal action to block states like Hawaii from suing big oil companies over climate change.
The move is sparking debate over state’s rights and government powers. President Donald Trump’s administration has filed a lawsuit to block future climate cases regarding deceptive practices by big oil companies. It was a suit that was brought before Hawaii officially sued.
“To file that when you don’t know what Hawaii’s claims are yet. To me, it’s a little bit, difficult to understand,” said UH Manoa associate professor of law, Richard Wallsgrove.
The federal lawsuit argues that letting states go after oil companies could interfere with national energy policy, but Wallsgrove said the timing — and the target — suggest the real goal is to shield corporations.
“In that sense, it’s sort of like a protection racket for the oil industry. That’s, that’s how I read it,” Wallsgrove said.
Hawaii’s Attorney General said she still plans to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in climate changed and filed a lawsuit on Thursday afternoon that alleged seven fossil fuel companies, “put profits ahead of people and facilitated the increased use of their dangerous products through decades of deceptive conduct.”
Critics of the state’s approach said going after big oil will only lead to higher gas bills.
“The whole economy is powered on oil. So. So we need the oil companies. Should there be regulations, should there be checks? Absolutely. And I think President Trump is, is not stupid enough to give them free range,” said Rep. Diamond Garcia. “The left wants the big oil companies to foot the bill. But in reality, if we continue to allow these blue states to sue oil companies, we’re going to be letting our own citizens foot the bill.”
Others said courts, not presidents, should decide whether climate deception claims hold water.
“If there’s, you know, merit to its allegations, we should see fossil fuel companies pay for the damages that they allegedly caused. And if there is no merit to the lawsuit, the lawsuit should be dismissed,” Wallsgrove said.
Lawsuits were also filed against Vermont, Michigan and New York over climate laws. Click here to view Hawaii’s complaint filed in response.