BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC

Berkshire Hathaway holds a controlling stake in Dairy Farmers of America, the largest dairy cooperative in the United States. Through this investment, Berkshire is materially linked to industrial-scale dairy production, a system reliant on the commercial exploitation of animals. Dairy Farmers of America supplies milk from thousands of farms, including operations implicated in widespread animal welfare issues.

This connection was highlighted by a 2020 $21 million settlement against Fairlife LLC, a joint venture between Coca-Cola and Select Milk Producers, for deceptive animal welfare marketing. While not a direct subsidiary, the case exposed systemic mistreatment within the industrial dairy supply chain that supplies major cooperatives like Dairy Farmers of America. Berkshire’s investment ties its capital directly to this industry, with no public commitment to reform the underlying animal exploitation inherent in its dairy operations.

PacifiCorp (owned by Berkshire Hathaway Energy) settled for $178M with 403 plaintiffs over liability for the 2020 Labor Day wildfires in Oregon (June 2024). PacifiCorp faces billions in additional wildfire liability across Oregon and California. Also: BNSF Railway (Berkshire subsidiary) ordered by Surface Transportation Board to transport 4.2M tons of Navajo Nation coal (June 2023) — mandated continuation of coal infrastructure.

BNSF Railway (Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary) ordered by Surface Transportation Board to transport 4.2M tons of coal for Navajo Nation mining company (June 2023). BNSF is the primary rail carrier for Powder River Basin coal — transporting more coal than any other US railroad. PacifiCorp (also Berkshire) operates coal plants in 6 western states.

Berkshire Hathaway Energy, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, operates one of the largest and most carbon-intensive coal-fired power fleets in the United States. A January 2025 Reuters analysis found that Berkshire’s coal plants emit more nitrogen oxide gases than any other coal-fired fleet in the country. The company has actively sought to maintain this exposure, lobbying for regulatory reprieves and fighting stricter air quality requirements.

This reliance on coal has led to significant legal and financial liabilities. Subsidiary PacifiCorp has been ordered by juries to pay over $1 billion in damages for its role in catastrophic wildfires. Furthermore, the company faces ongoing environmental risks from coal ash, with reports documenting toxic chemicals leaking from coal plants into groundwater. Despite these mounting costs, the parent company’s insurance units, including Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group, continue to underwrite coal projects without announced restrictions.

While Berkshire Hathaway Energy’s public vision includes delivering “sustainable energy solutions,” its operational reality and lobbying posture demonstrate a continued strategic commitment to coal generation. There is no announced plan to phase out its coal assets, which remain central to its utility operations across multiple states.