US Oil Industry Busted For History-Making Antitrust Conspiracy

The article discusses a landmark federal antitrust lawsuit filed by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel against major oil companies—including BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell—and the American Petroleum Institute. Unlike previous climate-related lawsuits that focused on fraud, deception, and consumer harm, this case centers on a nearly 50-year conspiracy to restrain trade and engage in anti-competitive practices under the Sherman Antitrust Act, Clayton Antitrust Act, and Michigan Antitrust Reform Act. The lawsuit alleges that these defendants collaborated to suppress renewable energy development, manipulate patents, mislead institutions, intimidate watchdogs, and coordinate efforts through trade associations to divert investments away from clean energy alternatives. This legal action emerges amid a broader context of climate litigation, where states like Minnesota have pursued oil companies for deceptive advertising and failure to warn about climate risks. The Michigan lawsuit marks a strategic shift by focusing on antitrust violations rather than solely climate impacts or consumer fraud. The case highlights a sophisticated and long-running industry effort to maintain fossil fuel dominance