Jury orders Chevron to pay more than $744m for destroying Louisiana wetlands
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Chevron to Pay $744M Fine for Louisiana Wetlands Damage
Above: Vehicles wait in line for fuel at a Chevron Corp. gas station in Florida. Image copyright: Christina Mendenhall/Contributor/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Coastal erosion is primarily caused by the Mississippi River levee system blocking natural sediment deposition, not by the oil and gas industry that has operated legally for decades. The verdict sends a chilling message to businesses and threatens Louisiana's position as an energy leader, potentially harming the state's economy.
Establishment-critical narrative
The extensive network of canals cut by oil companies has weakened wetlands, exacerbated sea level rise impacts, and left South Louisiana vulnerable to flooding and hurricanes. Chevron chose profits over environmental protection, failed to follow regulations, and must now contribute to restoring the coast it helped destroy.