Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against BP, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Shell, and the American Petroleum Institute. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, the complaint alleges violations of the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act, and Michigan antitrust law. The lawsuit claims the defendants coordinated for decades to block competition from renewable energy, inflate transportation and home energy prices, and preserve their dominance in energy markets, leaving Michigan consumers with limited and costly options.
The lawsuit outlines allegations of abandoned renewable projects, patent misuse, coordinated messaging through trade groups, and efforts to mislead institutions and policymakers about the costs of fossil fuels and alternatives. “Michigan is facing an energy affordability crisis as our home energy costs skyrocket and consumers are left without affordable options for transportation,” Nessel said, adding that rising costs “are not the result of natural economic inflation, but due to the greed of these corporations.” The state argues the alleged conduct reduced consumer choice, raised prices, and contributed to broader economic and environmental costs for Michigan residents.
