Multnomah County Targets NW Natural in Landmark Climate Lawsuit Against Fossil Fuel Companies

Multnomah County has made headlines by adding Oregon’s largest natural gas utility, NW Natural, to its ongoing climate lawsuit against fossil fuel companies. This legal action, which originally began last year, accuses these companies of contributing to the 2021 heat-dome event that ravaged the Pacific Northwest.

This extreme weather phenomenon set temperature records and resulted in approximately 800 deaths across Oregon, Washington state, and British Columbia during a brutal heat wave in late June and early July.

The amended complaint identifies NW Natural as a significant player in the region’s greenhouse gas emissions, claiming it misled the public about the dangers associated with these emissions.

The utility serves about 2 million people in the Pacific Northwest and has not provided detailed comments on the lawsuit, stating it is still reviewing the claims. However, NW Natural has expressed its intent to vigorously contest the allegations, suggesting that they serve as a distraction from the core legal issues in the case.

This lawsuit is notable for being the first instance in which a gas utility has been included in a climate deception case against fossil fuel companies, according to the Center for Climate Integrity. The number of similar lawsuits filed by state and local governments in the U.S. has surged, with over two dozen cases currently in progress.

The amended complaint also mentions the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine, a group known for its opposition to the concept of human-caused global warming, though they have yet to comment on their inclusion in the lawsuit.

Multnomah County is seeking a staggering $51.5 billion in damages to cover the costs of responding to climate-related events, including extreme heat, wildfires, and drought.

County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson articulated the financial burden that the climate crisis imposes on the community, emphasizing that local taxpayers are already paying heavily for these impacts. She highlighted the need to fortify the county’s safety measures to protect residents from future climate-related challenges.

Responses from the fossil fuel companies have varied, with major players like ExxonMobil and Chevron dismissing the claims as baseless.

Shell, while acknowledging the need for collaborative action on climate change, has expressed its belief that courtrooms are not the proper venues for addressing these issues. As the lawsuit proceeds in Multnomah County Circuit Court, it reflects a growing trend of legal accountability for fossil fuel companies regarding their role in climate change and its devastating consequences.