North Dakota judge finalizes $345m judgment against Greenpeace in pipeline case

The Guardian - World NewsEN 2 min read 100% complete by ReutersFebruary 28, 2026 at 03:09 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

A North Dakota judge finalized a $345 million judgment against Greenpeace on Friday in a lawsuit brought by Energy Transfer, the company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline. The lawsuit stemmed from Greenpeace's involvement in protests against the pipeline's construction near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, which began in 2016 and was completed in 2017. Energy Transfer accused Greenpeace of defamation, trespassing, and conspiracy for allegedly spreading falsehoods and paying protesters to disrupt construction. Greenpeace plans to seek a new trial and appeal if necessary, arguing the lawsuit is an attempt to silence free speech. Energy Transfer stated they are analyzing further steps to ensure Greenpeace is held fully accountable. Greenpeace has also countersued Energy Transfer in the Netherlands.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Netherlands 30% Standing Rock Indian Reservation 40% Marco Simons 50% James Gion 60% North Dakota ×570% Dakota Access Pipeline ×480% Greenpeace ×790% Energy Transfer ×690%

Keywords

dakota access pipeline 100% greenpeace 90% energy transfer 80% lawsuit 70% protests 60% free speech 50% environmental harm 50% north dakota 40% damages award 40%