Pipeline Protest Verdict Hits $345 Million

A North Dakota judge has handed down a hefty judgment against environmental group Greenpeace, awarding them $345 million after a trial over protests of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Background

• Energy Transfer, the company that built the 1,172‑mile pipeline from North Dakota to Illinois, sued Greenpeace for allegedly causing delays and financial losses.
• Plaintiffs claimed Greenpeace’s activism disrupted construction for years.
• Greenpeace argued the lawsuit was an attempt to silence critics and infringe on free speech.

The Verdict

• The jury’s decision followed a judge who cut the original award in half, reducing it from about $670 million to the current figure.
• The money will be split among three Greenpeace entities.

Next Steps

• Greenpeace officials plan to challenge the verdict, possibly requesting a new trial or appealing to the North Dakota Supreme Court.
• The company that filed suit has not yet responded to inquiries.

Implications

If upheld, the judgment could threaten Greenpeace’s financial stability in the United States. The organization insists that speaking out against corporate environmental harm should never be illegal and views the ruling as a setback that will eventually fail.

Broader Context

The case highlights the tension between large infrastructure projects and environmental activism, raising questions about how protest actions are treated in court.