PORTLAND, Ore. — The largest natural gas provider in Oregon has been added to a significant climate lawsuit within Multnomah County, which encompasses Portland. This lawsuit, amounting to $51.5 billion, targets fossil fuel companies for their alleged contribution to the extreme heat experienced during the 2021 heat-dome phenomenon in the Pacific Northwest.
The original lawsuit was initiated last year, attributing the responsibility for the devastating heat wave that occurred in late June to early July 2021 to the greenhouse gas emissions of these companies. This heat wave has been linked to the deaths of approximately 800 individuals across Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia as temperatures soared to unprecedented heights.
An updated complaint was filed this week, incorporating NW Natural into a legal battle that already included major oil corporations such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Shell. The lawsuit claims that NW Natural, which services roughly 2 million customers in the region, significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon and misleads the public regarding the dangers associated with these emissions.
In response, NW Natural has stated that it will refrain from commenting extensively until it has reviewed the allegations in detail. However, the company believes that these new accusations may be an attempt to distract from the legal and factual framework of the case. NW Natural is prepared to contest these claims vigorously if the matter proceeds to court.
According to the Center for Climate Integrity, this marks the first instance where a gas utility has been implicated in litigation claiming climate misrepresentation by fossil fuel industries. Currently, there are more than two dozen similar lawsuits filed by various state, local, and tribal governments across the U.S., reflecting growing legal actions related to climate accountability.
The newly amended complaint also adds the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine, an organization that reportedly challenges the validity of human-induced climate change. An inquiry sent to this group regarding the lawsuit went unanswered, as the response indicated that the email had not been delivered.
Multnomah County aims to recover $51.5 billion in damages, primarily to cover the costs associated with addressing the ramifications of severe weather, wildfires, and drought periods. County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson emphasized the pressing need to bolster public safety measures to protect community members affected by climate crises. She pointed out the toll taken on tax dollars, public health, and lives as a result of climate change impacts.
Following the initial filing last year, ExxonMobil claimed that the lawsuit failed to engage with the realities of climate change, while Chevron representatives dismissed the allegations as unfounded. Shell has stated that the company is actively working on reducing its emissions and perceives that tackling climate change necessitates a collective approach across society rather than through litigation alone. The case is currently under consideration in the Multnomah County Circuit Court.
