LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a lawsuit against Big Oil. The lawsuit, filed Jan. 23, lists BP, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Shell and American Petroleum Institute. It says they acted as a cartel to restrict trade.

In a press release, Nessel’s office stated Big Oil “concluded that customer demand would likely favor alternative energy sources as the negative harms of fossil fuel consumption became known …”

Nessel’s history with fossil fuels.

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Nessel has a history of targeting the fossil fuel industry for litigation. In May 2024, she announced she would pursue litigation related to climate change caused by the fossil fuel industry on behalf of the state of Michigan.

“The fossil fuel industry, despite knowing about these consequences, prioritized profits over people and the environment,” Nessel said in 2024.

Tracking the megawatts.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration tracks how many megawatt-hours of electricity is produced every day by the source of energy.

On Jan. 23, 2026, coal produced 36.7% of the electricity in the Midwest region while natural gas produced the 27.5%. Wind represented 21.2% of the electricity produced, nuclear power came in at 3.3%, while solar came in at 0%. The Midwest region also includes Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Wisconsin.

When Nessel made her most recent announcement this week, temperatures in the Upper Peninsula dropped as low as negative 30 degrees.

“While solar panels in northern Michigan are blanketed in snow, ice dangles from wind turbines, & temps plunge below zero, Nessel decides it’s the perfect day to introduce her lawsuit against the fuel companies heating our homes,” wrote Michigan State Sen. Michele Hoitenga (R-Manton) on X.