Boulder Climate Lawsuit: Supreme Court Should Shut Down Attempt to Determine Federal Energy Policy

This fall, the Supreme Court will hear a case that could do more damage to American household budgets — and our economy as a whole — than almost any piece of legislation ever passed by Congress. It doesn’t involve a new spending bill or a tax hike but rather a lawsuit filed by Boulder County, Colo. And if Boulder wins, every American will pay the price.

Suncor Energy v. Boulder County is the leading case in a wave of more than 60 climate lawsuits filed by progressive localities against oil and gas companies since 2017. Boulder (the county and the city together) alleges that since ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy produce and sell fossil fuels, they contribute to global warming, the effects of which, it claims, have harmed Boulder’s property and residents. As compensation for these harms, Boulder seeks billions of dollars. In a parallel case, a single Oregon county is demanding more than $50 billion. New York’s Climate Change Superfund Act, signed into law in December 2024, seems to impose $75 billion in assessments on major fossil fuel producers over the next quarter century.

About the Author

Marc Wheat

Marc Wheat is the general counsel for Advancing American Freedom.

MB

About the Author

Mitchell G. Bahnsen

Mitchell G. Bahnsen is a summer intern at Advancing American Freedom, and writes often about religious, political, and economic topics.

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This fall, the Supreme Court will hear a case that could do more damage to American household budgets — and our economy as a whole — than almost any piece of legislation ever passed by Congress. It doesn’t involve a new spending bill or a tax hike but rather a lawsuit filed by Boulder County, Colo. And if Boulder wins, every American will pay the price.

Suncor Energy v. Boulder County is the leading case in a wave of more than 60 climate lawsuits filed by progressive localities against oil and gas companies since 2017. Boulder (the county and the city together) alleges that since ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy produce and sell fossil fuels, they contribute to global warming, the effects of which, it claims, have harmed Boulder’s property and residents. As compensation for these harms, Boulder seeks billions of dollars. In a parallel case, a single Oregon county is demanding more than $50 billion. New York’s Climate Change Superfund Act, signed into law in December 2024, seems to impose $75 billion in assessments on major fossil fuel producers over the next quarter century.