Palmetto State News

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has joined a 19-state coalition led by Alabama in requesting the Supreme Court to declare unconstitutional the efforts of California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Rhode Island to influence American energy policy. These states have initiated litigation against major energy companies over an alleged "climate crisis," seeking billions of dollars in damages. The coalition argues that these lawsuits threaten to impose severe penalties and coercive measures affecting energy production and consumption nationwide.

"Each state is sovereign, and these other states have no right to tell South Carolina what to do, especially when their plans would cost South Carolinians more and reduce our ability to generate the energy we need," said Attorney General Wilson.

The Supreme Court will decide whether to hear the lawsuit brought by the 19-state coalition against California and the other four proposed defendants. The coalition's filing includes a motion, complaint, and brief that emphasize the importance of traditional energy sources like oil, natural gas, and coal for American prosperity. The states argue that federalism ensures no state holds more power than another.

In April, South Carolina joined a 20-state amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to review a lawsuit filed by Honolulu against energy companies. Honolulu alleges that these companies misled consumers about emissions from everyday products such as gasoline. The Supreme Court has not yet decided whether it will hear this case.

Besides South Carolina and Alabama, the coalition includes attorneys general from Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.