Greenpeace USA faces $300m lawsuit from pipeline giant Energy Transfer
The American branch of Greenpeace is facing a major crisis due to a lawsuit filed against the organisation by Energy Transfer Partners. The company is demanding $300 million in damages from the climate activists.
Since its founding in 1971, Greenpeace's mission has been to fight for the environment. Over the decades, this non-governmental organisation has grown significantly, now having local offices in over 55 countries. Wherever there is a risk to nature, Greenpeace activists are there. This was also the case in 2016 when activists gathered in North Dakota at the construction site of Energy Transfer.
This company is owned by Kelcy Warren, an American businessman, billionaire, and leader in the US oil industry. His company oversaw the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which connects North Dakota with the Gulf of Mexico, crossing the entire United States. The project was valued at $3.8 billion. Such a massive investment faced opposition from environmental organisations and native peoples of North America.
Greenpeace USA in crisis
The primary concern against the pipeline's construction was the potential consequences of an oil spill. Such a catastrophe could poison the Missouri River, which, along with the Mississippi, forms the longest river system in North America, stretching approximately 3,710 miles. Indigenous tribes and environmental organisations, including Greenpeace, opposed the construction. The tribes feared not only water contamination but also the pollution of their sacred lands. The height of the protests occurred in September 2016 when demonstrators clashed with police and security personnel. Several thousand people participated in the protests, with around 700 detentions.
The Obama administration halted the pipeline's construction, but work resumed early in Donald Trump's presidency. The pipeline has been operational since June 2017, and the president of Energy Transfer Partners is known for generously supporting Trump's election campaign. Politico said the billionaire donated about $5 million to Trump's campaign.
$300 million keeps Greenpeace awake at night
Warren seeks retribution against the activists for the 2016 protests. He demanded $300 million in compensation from Greenpeace, claiming that the demonstrations delayed the pipeline's completion and caused the company to incur multimillion-dollar losses. Greenpeace's American branch is preparing for the worst-case scenario, which could include bankruptcy. Mediation is ongoing to settle with the conflicting parties.
Greenpeace describes the lawsuit as "groundless," adding that it is "an attack on freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest." Meanwhile, Energy Transfer asserts that it supports Americans' right to protest and voice their opinions legally. "However, when it happens unlawfully, one has to fight for justice," the company explains.
A victory for the oil baron could spell disaster for the American branch of Greenpeace, but it would not affect the organisation's global structure. Greenpeace's main body, based in the Netherlands, does not own the assets of its American branch.
