Greenpeace Lawsuit Against Energy Transfer

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Greenpeace International has filed a lawsuit against U.S. pipeline company Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET) in a Dutch court. This legal action is the first test of a new European law designed to curb lawsuits aimed at silencing rights activists.

Energy Transfer has initiated lawsuits in the United States against Greenpeace USA, Greenpeace International, and other environmental organizations since 2017. The company is seeking $300 million in damages due to activists’ efforts to block the Dakota Access Pipeline project.

In its statement, Greenpeace International expressed its intention to recover “all damages and costs it has suffered as a result of ET’s back-to-back, meritless lawsuits.”

In 2024, the European Union enacted regulations aimed at assisting journalists, rights activists, and public watchdogs in defending themselves against harassing or silencing lawsuits, particularly those that involve expensive litigation.

Greenpeace International, based in Amsterdam, has filed the lawsuit with the District Court of Amsterdam. It remains unclear whether EU and Dutch law will apply in the case against Energy Transfer.

Energy Transfer could not be reached for comment immediately.