Justice Department warns Boulder can’t set global energy policy in Colorado climate case
By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice
A lawsuit that started with three Colorado local governments and a stack of state tort claims will open the U.S. Supreme Court's new term.
On Monday, Oct. 5, the justices hear argument in Suncor Energy (U.S.A.) Inc. v. County Commissioners of Boulder County, the first case of October Term 2026. It is the first time the Court will decide on the merits whether federal law bars state-law climate-damages claims of this kind against fossil-fuel companies.
The city of Boulder, Boulder County and San Miguel County sued Suncor and ExxonMobil in 2018. San Miguel County's claims were later transferred to a separate case, leaving the city and Boulder County as the plaintiffs before the Supreme Court.
They want the companies to...