Washington – As the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Suncor Energy v. Boulder County, the advocacy organization Power the Future is pressing Congress to act quickly on legislation it says will protect American energy producers and keep costs down for families.
Call for swift legislative action
Daniel Turner, founder and executive director of Power the Future, told The Center Square that while the Supreme Court may rule on a single case, Congress has the power to end what he described as a “massive climate tax hike” targeting lawful energy activity. Turner urged the House Judiciary Committee to pass Rep. Harriet Hageman’s Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026 without delay.
What the bill seeks to do
The proposed legislation aims to block what its sponsors call “leftist legal crusades” that seek to punish lawful oil and gas operations through lawsuits and so‑called “superfund” programs. According to a press release from Rep. Hageman, R‑Wyoming, the bill would “protect American energy from legal attacks that undermine our energy security and drive up costs for consumers.”
Potential cost impact on households
Turner cited a Power the Future report estimating that successful climate lawsuits could cost U.S. households up to $2,111 per year. The analysis also projected an increase of about 41 cents per gallon for gasoline and an 8.6 percent rise in electric rates if courts award large monetary damages against the industry.
Broader context of climate litigation
More than 300 climate‑related lawsuits have been filed by state and local governments, many in states governed by Democratic majorities, seeking billions of dollars in damages they allege result from climate change. Boulder County, Colorado, is one of several jurisdictions pursuing such claims against the oil and gas sector.
Turner argued that the climate movement has become a $31‑billion‑a‑year industry that, unable to pass its agenda through Congress, has turned to the courts—venues he says do not have to answer to voters. He warned that the courts are being “weaponized” against the energy sector, driving up costs for every American while enriching a few and financing political campaigns.
Letter to the Judiciary Committee
In a letter addressed to the House Judiciary Committee, Turner wrote, “As opening arguments begin in the U.S. Supreme Court case Suncor Energy v. Boulder County, I am writing to urge your support for swift passage of H.R. 8330, the Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026.” He emphasized that the bill would safeguard energy producers from lawsuits and programs that aim to punish lawful activity and jeopardize energy security.
Turner concluded that consumers should “follow the money” in climate litigation, noting that the industry’s legal strategy is designed to generate revenue for advocacy groups and political campaigns rather than address environmental concerns.
Next steps
Power the Future has sent its urging to the House Judiciary Committee and hopes the bill will move forward before the Supreme Court issues a ruling in the Suncor case. The organization argues that prompt congressional action is essential to prevent families from bearing the financial burden of ongoing climate lawsuits.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
