NW Natural accused of ‘deceptive marketing’ in new class-action suit

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — Oregon’s largest natural gas supplier is facing another legal challenge just days after being accused of spreading misinformation about climate change in a separate suit by Multnomah County .

The new class action lawsuit, filed Wednesday on behalf of customers who enrolled in NW Natural’s Smart Energy Program, alleges the customers wanting to make “green” choices were misled by the company’s marketing team. The utility company advertises the program’s use of biogas as a way to offset gas emissions.

However, the suit further claims the program is actually sending the offset payments to industrial dairy farms, leading to increased emissions.

Additionally, the suit alleges NW Natural claimed the same environmental benefits from the emissions of their Smart Energy customers, in a process known as “double counting.” The suit states this was a way for the company to claim the investments as part of their state mandated decarbonization program.

As a result, the suit is accusing the utility company for breach of contract and violating Oregon law on unfair and deceptive marketing.

“There is a vast chasm between NW Natural’s representations and reality,” said Danny Noonan, a Climate and Energy Strategist with Breach Collective . “NW Natural has spent years greenwashing its operations to prevent needed regulation and is finally being called to account by its own customers.”

The suit also requests a jury trial to be determined at a later date.

All of this comes after Multnomah County named NW Natural a suit alleging the company is responsible for a “substantial portion” of greenhouse gas pollution in Oregon. The county claims the company spread misinformation about climate change and blames them for the 2021 heat dome that killed dozens of people.

When reached for comment, NW Natural released this statement:

“ We are aware of reports that a class action complaint against NW Natural and NW Natural Holdings has been filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Neither entity has been served with a complaint and we cannot comment in detail. However, the company takes these matters seriously and intends to vigorously defend itself should this matter come to court. “

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