{"id":423756,"date":"2026-01-29T17:19:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T16:19:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=423756"},"modified":"2026-01-29T17:19:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T16:19:13","slug":"californias-climate-lawsuit-soaring-electricity-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=423756","title":{"rendered":"California\u2019s Climate Lawsuit soaring electricity costs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attorney General Rob Bonta\u2019s lawsuit against major oil companies like ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, and the American Petroleum Institute- focuses on alleged deception and public nuisance related to climate change misinformation rather than addressing practical energy challenges in the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This view aligns with broader conservative critiques of climate litigation against oil companies, which often portray such suits as attempts to regulate energy policy through courts rather than legislatures, potentially ignoring global energy realities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

California\u2019s lawsuit is about control and reflects a governing mindset that favors lawsuits and executive orders over collaboration and accountability<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone who has paid a\u00a0California electric bill<\/a>\u00a0lately knows how bad things have gotten. Costs are soaring, the grid is strained, and policymakers in\u00a0Sacramento<\/a>\u00a0seem more focused on courtroom sound bites than keeping the lights on. The California Globe<\/a> has the story.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To that end, California\u2019s latest climate lawsuit against American energy producers may grab headlines, but it will not lower emissions, modernize infrastructure, or make life more affordable for families already struggling to keep up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attorney General Rob Bonta\u2019s 2023\u00a0lawsuit<\/a>\u00a0accuses energy producers of misleading the public about climate change. But it conveniently ignores\u00a0the\u00a0fact that California\u2019s energy policies have\u00a0long relied<\/a>\u00a0on traditional fuels to fund state programs and meet consumer demand, even as leaders claimed to be phasing them out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, California\u2019s Public Resources Code even\u00a0explicitly directs<\/a>\u00a0state supervisors to \u201cencourage the wise development of oil and gas resources to best meet oil and gas needs in this state.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet instead of addressing these deep credibility issues and admitting the failures of their unrealistic green energy proposals, state officials now want the courts to rewrite history and send the bill to energy consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problems California\u00a0faces\u00a0are not due to a lack\u00a0of\u00a0ambition, but execution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

California has set some of the most\u00a0aggressive<\/a>\u00a0climate targets in the world, but the infrastructure needed to reach them is years behind schedule. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transmission upgrades, renewable-energy projects, and grid storage remain mired in permitting delays and bureaucratic review. Each new regulation or lawsuit adds\u00a0yet\u00a0another layer of uncertainty for investors and developers, driving up costs and pushing projects elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, residents of the Golden State are paying the price. California families face electricity rates nearly\u00a0double the national average<\/a>\u00a0and some of the\u00a0highest gasoline prices<\/a>\u00a0in the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For low- and middle-income households, these monthly realities make it harder to live, work, and commute. Suing American energy producers does nothing to solve these problems. If anything, it risks making them worse by discouraging investment in the systems that keep California running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If our leaders truly wanted to bring relief to California families while working towards their climate targets, they would start by reforming the permitting and funding structures that delay new energy projects for years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They would invest in grid modernization, advanced storage, and cleaner domestic production of oil and natural gas rather than depending on more carbon-intensive imported\u00a0fuels<\/a>\u00a0and foreign supply chains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They would also empower local communities to shape their own energy priorities instead of dictating one-size-fits-all mandates from Sacramento.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the full story here<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Attorney General Rob Bonta\u2019s lawsuit against major oil companies like ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, and the American Petroleum Institute- focuses on alleged deception and public nuisance related to climate change misinformation rather than addressing practical energy challenges in the state.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":423766,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"California's lawsuit against oil companies highlights a misguided focus on litigation over practical energy solutions. Discover the implications.","jetpack_seo_html_title":"California's Climate Lawsuit: A Misguided Energy Strategy","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":true,"token":"eyJpbWciOiJodHRwczpcL1wvY2xpbWF0ZS1zY2llbmNlLnByZXNzXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI2XC8wMVwvQVFNTFBFdkdjT2JBUWVlNFhiVE5ERDk0QjFmVUxzcGhsNFhjX18tSTItZTZMUjFnM1NHejh3X1VFcFM5emt5cmhMYjZZZUpLQTE0eUxJQVpuWGZLRHpWcDgwa2dnNDRxVDhLcGlnMEVfb2prZXlRYThnclZwWnpmTnVaeFdUTEJuLVBTV1FQTnNQZFlPbG9WRUU1QUlNTlFJTDJiY1EtMS0xMDI0eDEwMjQuanBlZyIsInR4dCI6IkNhbGlmb3JuaWFcdTIwMTlzIENsaW1hdGUgTGF3c3VpdCBzb2FyaW5nIGVsZWN0cmljaXR5IGNvc3RzIiwidGVtcGxhdGUiOiJoaWdod2F5IiwiZm9udCI6IiIsImJsb2dfaWQiOjE1NTgxMjQ0OX0.g4-xrPS6aDP7phjzAy7bsqKoqkqSGj2uGUHzAZ7gfxgMQ"},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691840994,691818068,691818056,691820398,691819809,691824503,691819432,691819094],"class_list":{"0":"post-423756","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-attorney-general-rob-bonta","9":"tag-california","10":"tag-climate-change","11":"tag-climate-lawsuit","12":"tag-climate-targets","13":"tag-electricity-costs","14":"tag-energy-policies","15":"tag-renewable-green-energy","17":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AQMLPEvGcObAQee4XbTNDD94B1fULsphl4Xc__-I2-e6LR1g3SGz8w_UEpS9zkyrhLb6YeJKA14yLIAZnXfKDzVp80kgg44qT8Kpig0E_ojkeyQa8grVpZzfNuZxWTLBn-PSWQPNsPdYOloVEE5AIMNQIL2bcQ-1.jpeg?fit=1280%2C1280&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1MeM","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":428719,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=428719","url_meta":{"origin":423756,"position":0},"title":"ExxonMobil Strikes Back: Judge Greenlights Defamation Suit Against California AG Over Recycling Claims","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"28\/02\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"California, under Attorney General Rob Bonta (and previously in broader actions with Governor Gavin Newsom), has pursued aggressive legal actions against \"Big Oil\" companies like ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, BP, and ConocoPhillips.","rel":"","context":"In \"Big Oil\"","block_context":{"text":"Big Oil","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=big-oil"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AQMvE5XTSRWNApdEUejRh39zoNMUkvvwibxE9eVujuLo2H9R4_IdrfUSElOCoFMQMyX6CEdRqnnl9qTkzRnI594sZPno8fUbAHJfrbIV3C_QBEOy-29G_mMc9YYPsaRYhsqpLuJDpDtwFUhz3HOQm2HR7ntS8A.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AQMvE5XTSRWNApdEUejRh39zoNMUkvvwibxE9eVujuLo2H9R4_IdrfUSElOCoFMQMyX6CEdRqnnl9qTkzRnI594sZPno8fUbAHJfrbIV3C_QBEOy-29G_mMc9YYPsaRYhsqpLuJDpDtwFUhz3HOQm2HR7ntS8A.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AQMvE5XTSRWNApdEUejRh39zoNMUkvvwibxE9eVujuLo2H9R4_IdrfUSElOCoFMQMyX6CEdRqnnl9qTkzRnI594sZPno8fUbAHJfrbIV3C_QBEOy-29G_mMc9YYPsaRYhsqpLuJDpDtwFUhz3HOQm2HR7ntS8A.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AQMvE5XTSRWNApdEUejRh39zoNMUkvvwibxE9eVujuLo2H9R4_IdrfUSElOCoFMQMyX6CEdRqnnl9qTkzRnI594sZPno8fUbAHJfrbIV3C_QBEOy-29G_mMc9YYPsaRYhsqpLuJDpDtwFUhz3HOQm2HR7ntS8A.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AQMvE5XTSRWNApdEUejRh39zoNMUkvvwibxE9eVujuLo2H9R4_IdrfUSElOCoFMQMyX6CEdRqnnl9qTkzRnI594sZPno8fUbAHJfrbIV3C_QBEOy-29G_mMc9YYPsaRYhsqpLuJDpDtwFUhz3HOQm2HR7ntS8A.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":344559,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=344559","url_meta":{"origin":423756,"position":1},"title":"California Accuses Oil Giant Of Lying About Plastic Recycling In New Lawsuit","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"25\/09\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The state of California is suing ExxonMobil, alleging that the company deceived the public about how effective recycling plastic products is and facilitating pollution.","rel":"","context":"In \"California\"","block_context":{"text":"California","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=california"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/0plastic-recycling-1-1024x704.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/0plastic-recycling-1-1024x704.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/0plastic-recycling-1-1024x704.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/0plastic-recycling-1-1024x704.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":419257,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=419257","url_meta":{"origin":423756,"position":2},"title":"Climate activists v. the U.S. energy industry: Cases to watch in 2026","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"31\/12\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Anti-oil and gas advocates across the country have pursued litigation in recent years attempting to force the fossil fuel industry to pay for decades of financial damages the advocates claim were caused by climate change.","rel":"","context":"In \"\u201cwoke lawfare\u201d\"","block_context":{"text":"\u201cwoke lawfare\u201d","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=woke-lawfare"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AQMEEFUnPf8HA0ymfhJf8CdrreRio04ZlHgEJ-agr4JsFSgS-Bq5VFJNWkIa2bocCBvnzRP4-3XNefuEn-ydJbLlNaSuZLx8z2G8S0qWKoe8APXcAgYHIpWfFjuZxBVDvuiysvduRVNcwc-ZTwL2OuXy2wkG.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AQMEEFUnPf8HA0ymfhJf8CdrreRio04ZlHgEJ-agr4JsFSgS-Bq5VFJNWkIa2bocCBvnzRP4-3XNefuEn-ydJbLlNaSuZLx8z2G8S0qWKoe8APXcAgYHIpWfFjuZxBVDvuiysvduRVNcwc-ZTwL2OuXy2wkG.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AQMEEFUnPf8HA0ymfhJf8CdrreRio04ZlHgEJ-agr4JsFSgS-Bq5VFJNWkIa2bocCBvnzRP4-3XNefuEn-ydJbLlNaSuZLx8z2G8S0qWKoe8APXcAgYHIpWfFjuZxBVDvuiysvduRVNcwc-ZTwL2OuXy2wkG.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AQMEEFUnPf8HA0ymfhJf8CdrreRio04ZlHgEJ-agr4JsFSgS-Bq5VFJNWkIa2bocCBvnzRP4-3XNefuEn-ydJbLlNaSuZLx8z2G8S0qWKoe8APXcAgYHIpWfFjuZxBVDvuiysvduRVNcwc-ZTwL2OuXy2wkG.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AQMEEFUnPf8HA0ymfhJf8CdrreRio04ZlHgEJ-agr4JsFSgS-Bq5VFJNWkIa2bocCBvnzRP4-3XNefuEn-ydJbLlNaSuZLx8z2G8S0qWKoe8APXcAgYHIpWfFjuZxBVDvuiysvduRVNcwc-ZTwL2OuXy2wkG.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":279246,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=279246","url_meta":{"origin":423756,"position":3},"title":"Exxon Knew: California Sues Oil Giants for Committing Free Speech","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"18\/09\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The state of California has filed a sweeping climate lawsuit against Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips, and Chevron, as well as the domestic oil industry\u2019s biggest lobby, the American Petroleum Institute.\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In \"California\"","block_context":{"text":"California","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=california"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/00df7949b2de274fd13466065ad8e605ef.jpg?fit=1200%2C611&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/00df7949b2de274fd13466065ad8e605ef.jpg?fit=1200%2C611&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/00df7949b2de274fd13466065ad8e605ef.jpg?fit=1200%2C611&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/00df7949b2de274fd13466065ad8e605ef.jpg?fit=1200%2C611&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/00df7949b2de274fd13466065ad8e605ef.jpg?fit=1200%2C611&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":336373,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=336373","url_meta":{"origin":423756,"position":4},"title":"\u2018Goes Beyond the Limits\u2019: Judge Throws Out Blue City\u2019s Climate Case Against Oil Giants","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"13\/07\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"A judge tossed out Baltimore\u2019s climate lawsuit against major energy corporations on Wednesday.","rel":"","context":"In \"Baltimore City Circuit Court\"","block_context":{"text":"Baltimore City Circuit Court","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=baltimore-city-circuit-court"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/0Screenshot-2024-07-13-113618.png?fit=1178%2C611&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/0Screenshot-2024-07-13-113618.png?fit=1178%2C611&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/0Screenshot-2024-07-13-113618.png?fit=1178%2C611&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/0Screenshot-2024-07-13-113618.png?fit=1178%2C611&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/0Screenshot-2024-07-13-113618.png?fit=1178%2C611&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":292359,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=292359","url_meta":{"origin":423756,"position":5},"title":"Fisherman\u2019s Association Drops \u201cClimate Deception\u201d Lawsuit","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"23\/12\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"In a recent development that should hardly surprise those who follow the climate litigation theater, the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen\u2019s Associations (PCFFA) has withdrawn its climate lawsuit.","rel":"","context":"In \"climate deception\"","block_context":{"text":"climate deception","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=climate-deception"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image-539.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image-539.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image-539.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image-539.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image-539.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/423756","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=423756"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/423756\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":423768,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/423756\/revisions\/423768"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/423766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=423756"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=423756"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=423756"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}