Ahead of the U.S. Supreme Court hearing oral arguments in Boulder’s climate lawsuit against major energy companies next month, more than 60 amicus briefs were filed in support of each side. Eight Colorado counties — Archuleta, Delta, Garfield, Grand, Mesa, Montezuma, Montrose, and Rio Blanco — filed a brief opposing Boulder’s lawsuit, along with the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado.
How many Colorado cities and counties filed briefs in support of Boulder more than eight years after the case was first introduced? Zero.
That is a striking fact, given the effort from environmental groups and Boulder itself to portray the lawsuit as a defense of Colorado communities. Boulder’s lawsuit has become a national cause célèbre for climate activists. Democratic attorneys general from around the country and party leaders in Washington, D.C., support it. Deep-pocketed environmental activist organizations support it. Plaintiffs’ lawyers looking for big payouts support it…