Michigan sues oil giants, alleging collusion to stifle renewables, EVs
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel accuses four oil giants and their trade group of a decades-long cartel suppressing renewables and electric vehicles, causing high energy costs.
- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a 126-page antitrust complaint Jan. 23 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, alleging BP, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Shell and the American Petroleum Institute colluded for decades to suppress renewables and EVs.
- Dating back to the late 1970s, the complaint says Exxon warned of catastrophic warming in 1979 and oil companies led 70% of the solar market in the early 1980s before abandoning hybrid tech with Toyota by 1981.
- The complaint details specific tactics, including patent maneuvers and research suppression, alleging defendants used 'capture-and-kill' tactics to shelve renewable patents and suppressed EV charging infrastructure at branded gas stations.
- The filing seeks triple damages since 2022, disgorgement and an injunction, claiming Michiganders face higher energy costs, climate losses and just 1.5% EV or plug-in hybrid vehicle registration.
- Nessel called the filing `the first case of its kind` as other Democrat-led states sue oil companies in recent years and the Trump administration sued Michigan in April 2025, while Michigan business groups criticized the plan despite months of preparation.
23 Articles
23 Articles
Michigan AG brings federal antitrust suit against fossil fuel companies
Michigan Attorney General (AG) Dana Nessel on Friday filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against several large oil companies, alleging a decades-long conspiracy to suppress renewable energy competition. The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Western District of Michigan, names BP, Chevron, Exxon, Shell, and the American Petroleum Institute as the defendants. The suit alleges a conspiracy to restrain trade under the Sherman Act and the…
Michigan files antitrust suit against oil companies, trade group
(The Center Square) - Large oil companies and their primary trade association worked for decades to block the adoption of renewable energy and electric vehicles, a lawsuit filed by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel alleges.
Michigan sues oil companies, saying they colluded to restrain EV competition
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Friday filed an antitrust lawsuit against four major oil companies, asserting they have colluded for decades to forestall competition from renewable energy, including electric vehicles.
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