Northwest Natural Gas's Smart Energy program advertises itself as a way for customers to “offset” their natural gas emissions by funding projects that the company says “reduce, or prevent the release of, greenhouse gases.” But in fact, as customers found out, Smart Energy funds go to methane digesters that actually promote increased pollution, at factory farms like Boardman, Oregon's Threemile Canyon Dairy.
Last October a lawsuit was filed by Northwest Natural's customers over misleading claims at the heart of the Smart Energy program, which the plaintiffs in this class action claim is a ‘greenwashed’ breach of contract under Oregon law and violates the state’s prohibition on unfair and deceptive marketing claims.
On this episode of Locus Focus we talk with Skye Walker and Kelsey Eberly, with FarmSTAND, who is representing the plaintiffs in this case.