By Jo Nova
A jury in North Dakota has ordered Greenpeace to pay $660 milllion USD to a Texas pipeline company called Energy Transfer. Greenpeace will appeal, but the suit named both Greenpeace USA and also the international arm, and the damages are so large, if they survive the appeal they would bankrupt the US branch entirely and prevent Greenpeace operating in the USA.
The payment is to compensate for damages and losses from protests in 2015 and 2016 that damaged and delayed the North Dakota Access Pipeline. The protests were so large and so out of control, the clean up bill cost North Dakota $38 million dollars.
Perhaps most importantly, this case may inspire other corporations to fight back. Kelcy Warren, the magnate who owns Energy Transfer, said in 2017 “Everybody is afraid of these environmental groups and the fear that it may look wrong if you fight back with these people,”. “But what they did to us is wrong, and they’re gonna pay for it.” (– Wall Street Journal)
The 1,172 mile long pipeline did eventually start operation in 2017. It shifts about 5% of the daily oil production of the United States. Presumably every month it was delayed would have cost US customers money, time or a better choice, and there’s no compensation for them. Taxpayers also likely funded some of the Greenpeace budget through USAID and the Tides Foundation. It’s easy to imagine how a million dollars here or there could whip up angry protests that cause hundreds of millions in losses…
Sadly it’s now nine years after the protests, justice still isn’t done yet, and the only guaranteed winners are the lawyers. But the message to Greenpeace and all the activist groups is they no longer have a sacred social license to damage, trespass and interfere with law abiding operations. They can and will be sued, and that should take the wind out their egotistical sails around the world.
We’re living though the great realignment of politics. The New York Times points out that among the environmentalists and celebrities who flocked to the site for the protest, were Robert F Kennedy Jr and Tulsi Gabbard. Who would have had any clue in 2016, that today they’d be the current Secretary for Health and Human Services and the Director of National Intelligence, and for a Republican President?
Court Slams Greenpeace With $660-Million Damages Order in Pipeline Suit
By Irena Slav, OilPrice
A North Dakota jury has ruled that Greenpeace must pay $660 million in damages to pipeline major Energy Transfer after the group was found guilty of defamation, conspiracy, and physical damage to the Dakota Access pipeline.
Greenpeace called the case an attack on free speech, but the company replied that “violent and destructive protest is unlawful and unacceptable.” (Are you listening Tesla-haters?)
The environmental group had said the lawsuit, over its role in a protest movement, could mean an end to its operations in the United States. — New York Times
Greenpeace’s defense was that they didn’t organize much of the action:
The group has maintained that it played only a minor part in demonstrations led by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. It has portrayed the lawsuit as an attempt to stifle oil-industry critics.
But the American Energy Institute feels differently (and apparently the Jury in North Dakota too)
Greenpeace played a leading role, mobilizing activists who trespassed on private property, vandalized equipment, and disrupted lawful commerce. These protests, portrayed as peaceful by the mainstream media, caused millions in damages and left the state to shoulder over $38 million in law enforcement costs. Property owners faced destruction and intimidation, and vital energy infrastructure was attacked – all under the banner of environmental justice and free speech.
After the case they vowed not to stop with their legal battle
We absolutely believe in our legal defense. We believe the law is fully on our side. We believe in what we did at Standing Rock, and that ultimately we will prevail against this meritless lawsuit.
Sure.
Protesters camping in North Dakota
The $660 million dollar bill is split between the three wings of Greenpeace:
Of the total damages of $USD666.9 million, the jury found Greenpeace USA must pay nearly $USD404 million, while Greenpeace Fund Incorporation and Greenpeace International would each pay roughly $USD131 million.
Taxpayers of the USA probably helped fund Greenpeace whether they wanted to or not. Only a few days ago it was reported that USAID gave about $25 million dollars to the Tides Center, which in turn funded radical organisations, including Greenpeace. h/t RickWill.
Who knows how much other money ultimately found its way from taxpayers through The Blob to Greenpeace. DOGE may well uncover more.
Time Magazine (does anyone still read it) posted the most incompetent coverage on the topic allegedly written by one Hallie Golden/AP. Or maybe an AI just phoned it in. In “What to Know About Greenpeace, After it was Found Liable for $650M” someone or something wrote three paragraphs saying the obvious and then three pages reproducing a Greenpeace brochure they got in 1995 or something. Their softball questions were so soft it was more like throwing teddy bears — “How was Greenpeace Founded”, and “Where did the name Greenpeace come from” as if the chumpy chumpy promo stories from 50 years ago have any meaning at all in this case. It was so bad I wondered if the domain name was hijacked.
But Google still put the Time article as number 7 on it’s first page as “news”. It says a lot about the search engine.
Thanks to Fuel Filter, David Wojik, RickWill, and David E
Protest photos: Pax Ahimsa Gethen and Maligh.
