Court-Ordered $345 Million Settlement May Lead to Greenpeace Bankruptcy

Greenpeace Faces Major Financial Judgment

A judge is set to mandate that Greenpeace pay a $345 million judgment, with hopes that this could potentially drive the controversial environmental organization into bankruptcy.

The organization is expected to challenge this ruling in an appeal.

Last year, a jury awarded Energy Transfer a staggering $660 million from Greenpeace. However, the jury reconsidered and reduced the sum by half. Energy Transfer plans to seek the full amount in an appeal.

Reporting from Breitbart News noted last year’s lawsuit regarding protests connected to the Dakota Access Pipeline:

Energy Transfer, based in Texas, operates the Dakota Access Pipeline, which faced significant disruptions nearly a decade ago due to extensive Greenpeace protests against it. The lawsuit claims Greenpeace engaged in defamation, trespassing, and inflicted physical harm on pipelines and equipment, leading to expensive delays for Energy Transfer.

During closing arguments, Energy Transfer attorney Trey Cox claimed that Greenpeace had disrupted the proceedings. The company accused Greenpeace of financing protests that not only delayed the pipeline’s construction but also escalated costs and harmed its reputation.

The Dakota Access Pipeline, which has been operational since 2017, spans 1,172 miles and has the capacity to transport 750,000 barrels of oil daily.

Reflecting on the protests, the harassment against the project was intense. A lawsuit aiming for closure remains in progress, with one judge ordering the factory to shut down and deplete its oil supply, although an appeals court intervened.

It’s worth noting that in nearly ten years of operation, there haven’t been any reported environmental incidents linked to the pipeline. Pipelines are generally regarded as the safest and most eco-friendly method for oil transport. The alternative, transporting oil by train, not only raises the risk of accidents but also increases emissions.

It’s interesting to consider that contemporary environmentalists sometimes seem more anti-human than pro-environment. There’s a perception that they are pushing for a regressive lifestyle while living in comfort themselves—a disconnect that doesn’t go unnoticed.

We can all agree on the importance of clean air and water, yet some of these extreme activists seem to have moved beyond that principle. Many believe these environmentalists are, in a sense, taking on fascist characteristics and deceiving the public, while corporations appear to be gearing up to combat such tactics through lawsuits. There’s a growing awareness among the American public that these groups have been incorrect in their predictions, seemingly with a record of failure.

In a financial disclosure from late last year, Greenpeace USA admitted it lacks the funds to pay the judgment if enforced or to sustain its regular operations. As of December 31, 2024, the organization reported $1.4 million in cash and total assets amounting to $23 million.