One of the motivations behind Rhode Island’s ongoing public nuisance climate change lawsuit against energy producers is to secure a “sustainable funding stream” for the state, according to recently released documents. Public interest law firm Energy Policy Advocates (EPA) submitted the bombshell documents to the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals this month, citing remarks from a senior environmental official for the state.

The Rhode Island official admitted that they couldn’t secure funding for the climate-focused policies and projects they wanted to undertake through the proper channels – through laws that would raise revenue for the state. Instead, they chose to sue oil and gas companies in a money-grab attempt, and want their case heard in state court where they believe they stand a better chance of circumventing traditional avenues of generating revenue.

Read more at EIDClimate.org.