Hawaii Governor Josh Green formally announced plans to sue oil and gas companies for suspected climate damages, and just a few months later his administration endorsed liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a key tool to reduce emissions and reduce energy costs. [emphasis, links added]
In an interview Monday, Governor Green listed wildfire damage settlements in Hawaii already Obtained from the state itself – Maui County, Hawaii Telecom and other entities, before it was revealed that the payments collected from the oil company were also “good”:
“Owned The fossil fuel company's extra billions of dollars…” (Added emphasis)
At a recent Hawaii County hearing, the state’s efforts to turn the lawsuit into a source of income were revealed, with local officials describing the potential climate lawsuit as “another source of funding.”
Hypocrisy is very thick.
Hawaii – the most oil-dependent state in the country – has built its economy, tourism and power grid on fossil fuels, including LNG, and its own energy office recently called it the need to reduce emissions and reduce costs.
But now, The state tries to punish industries that rely on keeping lights and maintaining its economy.
Three key issues
As Hawaii works to file a climate lawsuit, here are the key questions journalists and policy makers should ask:
1. Wouldn't this lawsuit just make energy prices higher?
The new lawsuit in Hawaii will surely be applauded by radical climate activists, but ultimately Hawaii residents will eventually pay the price.
Plaintiffs in similar climate lawsuits across the country say legal lawsuits against energy producers are Intend Increase cost and Reduce consumption.
The cost of these frivolous cases is not that one person belongs to the company – They transfer to consumers in the form of higher fuel, electricity and transportation costs.
Take it from the lawyer representing Boulder in a similar climate case, which he did in 2020:
“Whether it is to reduce harmful activity or/or increase the price of products that cause these harmful effects so that they continue to sell fossil fuels, the hazardous costs of these fossil fuels will eventually be priced.
That's not entirely subtle. The purpose of a case like Hawaii is Increase Gasoline prices and energy costs.
For countries like Hawaii, which already bear the highest energy price in the country, rash climate laws only threaten to make working families and small businesses more affordable.
2. Will Hawaii recruit a dark “dark currency” law firm to handle its climate lawsuit?
Sher Edling, a shady law firm under a Congressional investigation, has already represented Maui and Honolulu in separate lawsuits against oil and gas companies.
The company first filed a climate lawsuit with UCLA law professor Ann Carlson in 2019 with UCLA law professor Ann Carlson at an event held at the University of Hawaii Richardson Law School, and sponsored by the Rockefeller-backed Center for Climate Integrity (CCI) and the Alliance of Scientists (UCS).
Given that Sher Edling is currently investigating its dark monetary funding sources in Congress, the public should know whether Hawaii plans to recruit the embattled law firm.
3. Will the Hawaiian legislature continue to throw pasta on the wall and promote other redundant bills to collect more money from oil companies?
In addition to lawsuits in Maui, Honolulu, and across the state, lawmakers are also trying to withdraw cash from U.S. energy companies by introducing climate “super fund” bills and legislation to allow individuals and insurers to sue oil and gas companies (similar to California’s recent failed legislation).
As climate litigation increases in Hawaii, it will tell Hawaiian officials whether to abandon its legislative proposals or continue to run to “bank” the oil industry, anyway.
Hawaii imports liquefied natural gas, suing natural gas producers
Hawaii's history is quite inconsistent with climate litigation and climate policy, which is quite inconsistent.
In 2019, Honolulu City and Maui County filed some of the earliest climate nuisance lawsuits against oil companies. After years of appeals and jurisdictional battles, these cases are currently advancing in Hawaii State Court.
At that time, the energy deeply summoned the hypocrisy of the lawsuit. Hawaii's tourism industry and reliance on imported goods make it highly dependent on fossil fuels.
We also point to the Rockefeller-funded campaign to eliminate support for litigation on the island.
Then, in January 2025, the Hawaii State Energy Office released a report on energy and cost of living issues commissioned by Governor Green.
The report confirms that the liquefied natural gas isThe only recent fuel and There is the potential to cost-effectively reduce state greenhouse gas emissions during the renewable energy transition period. ” (Added emphasis)
Now, months after strengthening the climate and cost benefits of LNG, Gov. Green will file a climate lawsuit to fine and punish oil and gas companies that produce and export LNG for the isolated grid in Hawaii.
Unfortunately for the island’s residents, the state’s latest move is bound to increase the cost of living in the state of Aloha.
Bottom line: Hawaii is choosing laws rather than addressing the cost of external energy for its residents. Governor Green's move may win praise from visitors to Los Angeles, but Hawaii residents will eventually bear the cost of these lawsuits.
Top image taken by KHON2 News/YouTube screenshot
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