The documents weren’t overlooked. There are no coincidences in politics.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is in hot water as a prolonged legal battle revealed the state ignored policies to limit emissions tied to climate change.

The state sued Exxon Mobil over claims it misled the public and investors about the energy company’s hydrocarbon burning policies. States and local governments across the country have sought large damages in recent years from energy companies over alleged ties to climate change.

However, ExxonMobil initiated a counter lawsuit that requested public records from the state’s database on initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Center Square reveals Exxon sought records on how state executive offices planned to meet Massachusetts’ CO₂ rules for government vehicle fleets, including anything using the term Executive Office.

For 16 months DEP insisted it had produced every responsive document and filed affidavits saying so. Exxon says the first search omitted key files, officials, search terms, and the commissioner’s office.

DEP now says it is reading Executive Office more broadly and needs more time for a targeted search.

TCS also points out, statewide records requests nearly doubled from 2017 to 2024, topping 44,000. Officials cite complex requests and short staffing; advocates cite weak enforcement. Secretary of State William Galvin said agencies generally dislike the public-records law and even-handed enforcement has been hard.

Similar issues appear in Colorado climate suits against ExxonMobil and Suncor; amicus briefs warn the cases could punish protected speech and political advocacy. But, then again, that may be the point. Massachusetts, on the other hand, punishes them by withholding, if not outright concealing, information.

PHOTO CREDIT: Pixabay