Chevron has been ordered by a jury to pay $744 million in damages for its role in Louisiana’s coastal wetland degradation. The verdict, the first of 42 lawsuits, marks a significant step in addressing the state’s rapid coastal erosion. However, the oil and gas industry warns the ruling could harm the state’s economy and deter future investment.

The Center Square reports:

In a historic decision with sweeping implications for Louisiana’s energy sector and environmental restoration efforts, a jury in lower Plaquemines Parish on Friday ordered Chevron to pay $744 million in damages for its role in the degradation of the state’s coastal wetlands.

The verdict marks the conclusion of the first trial among 42 lawsuits filed since 2013 by parishes across coastal Louisiana. The lawsuits allege that decades of oil and gas activity – primarily canal dredging and other infrastructure work –violated state permitting laws and accelerated the state’s catastrophic land loss.

The case, Plaquemines Parish v. Chevron USA, Inc., is the first of its kind to go before a jury. Chevron was sued as the successor to Texaco, whose operations in the parish date back decades.

“This is about responsibility,” said lead parish attorney John Carmouche. “If somebody causes harm, fix it.”

Chevron argued the lawsuit was flawed, claiming that the activities in question were permitted, legal, and often conducted under federal direction – particularly those tied to national security during World War II.

The company also sought to move the case to federal court, a request repeatedly denied over the years, with the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals affirming its place in state court in 2022.

Plaquemines Parish sought nearly $3 billion in damages. Environmental advocates and plaintiffs’ attorneys say the ruling could open the door to billions more in damages across the remaining lawsuits.

The verdict drew sharp criticism from Louisiana’s oil and gas industry and its allies, who warned the ruling could have dire consequences for the state’s economy.

“Today’s verdict not only undermines Louisiana’s position as an energy leader, but but also threatens our country’s trajectory at America-first energy dominance across the globe,” Tommy Faucheux, president of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association, said. “These lawsuits were never about restoring the coast. As the number one private investor in our working coast, the energy industry is already doing that. Instead, this is a deep-pocketed trial lawyers driving baseless lawsuits hoping to make millions in legal fees. Today’s decision is sacrificing the livelihoods of our families, friends and neighbors to give these trial lawyers their big payday.”

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis proposed a whopping $5.1 billion property tax relief plan, which includes $1,000 rebates for homesteaded properties and a potential ballot initiative for lower property taxes in 2026. He also emphasized the need for tax relief focused on Florida residents and homeowners, highlighting the burden of rising property taxes.

The Center Square reports:

Property property tax relief for Floridians through $5.1 billion in a proposed sales tax cut is being sought by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

He wants lawmakers to issue $1,000 for each of about 5.1 million homesteaded properties in the state. The rebates would be issued in December, covering state-mandated school property taxes, which he says would prevent a loss in funding for districts.

The state House of Representatives proposed reducing the state’s sales tax from 6% to 5.25% on Wednesday.

DeSantis added a state-level version of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency should examine local budgets to determine savings that can be passed to homeowners being hit by rising assessments on property values.

“Of all the taxes impacting Floridians, property taxes are the most significant,” DeSantis said. “So when you’re doing proposals, whether it’s working with the Legislature, whether it’s putting something on the ballot, to me, the threshold question is the tax relief needs to be Florida first.

“We need to focus on our Florida residents and to focus on in this case, Florida homeowners, particularly our homesteaded homeowners and we need to focus our relief there.”

The second-term Republican governor and former presidential candidate said he wants a ballot initiative aimed at lower property taxes on the 2026 ballot that he says will provide “robust protections” for homeowners in the state constitution.

He also said property taxes are an anomaly because these taxes aren’t voluntary consumption based and basically mean homeowners are paying “rent” to the government for their property, even if the mortgage is fully paid.

“I know people that bought their homes for $250,000 30 years ago and now they’re assessed at over a million dollars. That’s not something out of the ordinary,” DeSantis said. “That’s a source of wealth if you’re free and clear of the mortgage, but one of the drawbacks is in the form of property taxes and so people have seen that even with a homestead exemption that has not be enough to be able to protect people against these rising assessments.”