Michigan is suing four Big Oil companies and their largest trade association in federal court for conspiring to limit energy options and drive up costs for consumers, ultimately functioning as a “fossil fuel cartel.” Michigan accuses ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, BP, and the American Petroleum Institute of choking out renewable energy competitors to illegally gain dominance over the market, fueling the energy affordability crisis while concealing the climate harms of their products.
“At its heart, this is a case that is squarely about energy affordability, to combat the affordability crisis that we’re seeing in Michigan right now. It’s our firm belief that fossil fuel companies conspired together to restrain trade and to limit competition in violation of federal and state antitrust laws, and in doing so they drove up energy costs and limited energy options for Michigan consumers.”
Dana Nessel
Michigan Attorney General
State of Michigan
BP, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, API
January 23 2026
Climate
Antitrust
