The recent MinnPost Voices commentary from Minnesota Rep. Larry Kraft, DFL-St. Louis Park, asserts that big oil companies should “pay” because our state is facing higher costs from extreme weather and that the fossil-fuel industry “knew decades ago” about the damage its products would cause. But framing the issue that way misses the bigger picture of how Minnesota’s economy and energy system function, and risks punishing the very engine that powers our state.
The Minnesota lawsuit against major American energy producers is part of a national lawfare campaign funded by left-wing progressive organizations and managed by a network of activist law firms. The goal is to fundamentally remake American energy policy through the courts because the activists know they couldn’t possibly succeed in banning fossil fuels at the ballot box. Setting aside the case working its way through the courts, I want to focus on the practical impact of state Attorney General Keith Ellison’s effort and how it would affect Minnesota families, farmers and small businesses.
Related: Big Oil should pay for making life more expensive in Minnesota
As another Minnesota winter looms, families are bracing for higher heating bills and steeper prices at the pump. From heating homes to running farms and small businesses, energy costs touch every part of life here. The last thing Minnesotans need is another costly lawsuit that drives those prices even higher.
Instead of political blame games, we need energy policies that balance environmental goals with economic realities. Unfortunately, the push to demonize and make “Big Oil” pay through sweeping litigation does the opposite — it threatens jobs, raises household costs and diverts public resources into endless legal battles that won’t lower a single utility bill.
Nearly 60% of Minnesota homes rely on natural gas for heat, and the state imports most of its energy from elsewhere. Fossil fuels keep our homes warm, our trucks and tractors running, and our factories operating competitively. Suing the companies that supply this energy won’t make life more affordable, it will make it harder for Minnesotans to afford the things they buy, support their families and find good paying jobs.
Some activists claim energy companies deserve the same treatment as tobacco or opioid manufacturers. But that comparison collapses on closer inspection. Tobacco and opioids are harmful products that cause direct personal injury. Energy, by contrast, is a necessity: powering hospitals, schools, public safety and the entire food supply chain. Affordable energy is an essential component in maintaining and improving our quality of life, especially during our Minnesota winters. Lawsuits can’t change that reality.
The real reason Minnesotans will pay more is policy, not producers. Minnesota’s clean energy mandates (80% carbon-free electricity by 2030, 90% by 2035, and 100% by 2040) are among the most aggressive in the country. These targets sound noble but come with high compliance costs that are passed directly to ratepayers.
Analysts estimate that a rapid shift to 100% renewable energy could raise household energy bills by 43% to 286%, adding between $576 and $3,800 a year to the average family’s costs. That’s hardly “climate justice.” It’s economic pain for working families, farmers and small businesses already struggling with the high cost of living, meeting a payroll and raising a family in Minnesota.
Minnesota family farmers number more than 65,000 strong, taking care of roughly 26 million acres and employing over 400,000 of our neighbors. They rely heavily on diesel fuel for tractors, trucks and irrigation systems, along with propane and natural gas being used for drying grain, heating livestock barns and some fertilizer production.
Escalating a litigation campaign will only invite more lawsuits down the line, creating regulatory uncertainty and higher input costs that make it tougher for these families to stay in business in our state. The result will ultimately be pricier operations, slimmer margins and ultimately less affordable food on Minnesota tables. From corn, soybeans, wheat, vegetables, dairy, pork, beef and the turkey that feeds families here and across the country.
The lawsuits against energy companies won’t make Minnesota greener, just poorer. They create uncertainty for companies investing in reliability and cleaner technologies, discourage innovation, and send a chilling signal to industries that employ thousands of Minnesotans.
Related: The science behind climate change-boosted heat dome
While the progressive activists and national law firms target “big oil” today as part of their climate crusade, does anyone really believe it will end there? Almost certainly, Minnesota’s farmers, small-business owners, manufacturers, and ultimately, drivers, boaters, snowmobilers and anyone else who uses fossil fuels in daily life is going to find themselves in jeopardy.
Past settlements in other industries have shown what happens next: funds diverted into bureaucratic “slush funds” instead of tangible public benefits. In the end, trial lawyers and political allies benefit, not the citizens whose names are invoked to justify the fight.
Reliable, affordable energy is not a luxury. It’s foundational to the food, clothing and shelter that are the building blocks of our lives. Real progress doesn’t come from punishing those who power our economy and make our quality of life possible. It comes from sensible leadership that recognizes a simple truth: You can’t sue your way to the future.
Rep. Keith Allen, R-Kenyon, is a farmer and small-business owner who represents District 19A in the Minnesota House.
The post Counterpoint: Suing energy producers won’t make life more affordable for Minnesotans appeared first on MinnPost.
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