22 States Sue New York Over $75 Billion Climate Fund

Twenty-two states have filed a lawsuit against New York, challenging the constitutionality of its new Climate Change Superfund Act. This act mandates that major energy companies pay $75 billion into a fund to compensate for climate change damages allegedly caused between 2000 and 2018.

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey leads the coalition, arguing the law is unconstitutional overreach, potentially crippling the nation's energy grid and shifting energy independence to other countries like China, India, and Russia. The lawsuit claims the act unfairly targets a small group of energy producers for global greenhouse gas emissions and forces other states to subsidize New York projects.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul's office, however, remains steadfast in its commitment to the legislation, stating that they will vigorously defend it in court.

The participating states in the lawsuit include: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

This legal battle highlights the ongoing debate surrounding climate change responsibility and state regulatory power.