Puerto Rico dropped a $1 billion climate lawsuit against the oil and gas sector last Friday. This decision followed the Trump administration’s actions to block two states from pursuing similar litigation over environmental damages.
The territory’s government informed the US District Court for the District of Puerto Rico that it would “voluntarily dismiss this entire lawsuit.” President Trump has consistently criticized state-level climate initiatives that impact domestic energy production, and on April 30, the Department of Justice filed lawsuits against Hawaii and Michigan after they considered taking similar legal action against the energy industry.
Theodore J. Butorus, a Chevron attorney, commented that this decision would likely influence courts to rule that states can’t use their laws to take on climate change issues. He argued that these claims should be dismissed in accordance with federal law and existing Supreme Court precedents.
Notices announcing the lawsuit’s dismissal were submitted without any bias.
The lawsuit, initially filed in July 2024, had claimed that various energy companies were guilty of unfair practices due to their failure to properly warn about the dangers posed by their products.
This shift in Puerto Rico’s stance comes shortly after the Trump administration took legal measures against both Michigan and Hawaii, claiming they were acting beyond their jurisdiction.
Trump has firmly opposed state-led climate policies that might threaten domestic energy production, recently issuing an executive order aimed at identifying state regulations that he deems unconstitutional or burdensome to energy production.
Meanwhile, Hawaii has also faced federal legal challenges, with its Attorney General expressing strong disapproval of the DOJ’s lawsuit, which seeks to hinder the state’s own efforts against fossil fuel companies.
The American Energy Institute reached out to Puerto Rico’s Governor, advocating for the dismissal of the lawsuit, and praising the move as prioritizing the territory’s energy needs over climate change agendas.
The Puerto Rico Department of Justice has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding this change.
