Dakota Pipeline Operator Sues Environmental Groups, Alleges Interference Of Pipeline Construction Amounts To “Eco-Terrorism”
The pipeline operator Energy Transfer has filed a lawsuit against Greenpeace, Earth First, and a number of other organizations, alleging that attempts to solicit donations and interfere with construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline constituted “eco-terrorism.”
Image by Fibonacci Blue (CC BY 2.0)
In other words, Energy Transfer alleges that the environmental groups in question engaged in “acts of terrorism” and damaged “critical business and financial relationships” — thus resulting in billions of dollars in damages.
To frame that differently, Energy Transfer accuses the organizations in question of “manufacturing a media spectacle” relating to the Dakota Access pipeline, and of approaching the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and “using” it to create an opposition.
Image by Pax Ahimsa Gethen (CC BY-SA 4.0)
In even blunter terms, Energy Transfer alleges that environmental organizations “cynically planted radical, violent eco-terrorists on the ground amongst the protesters, and directly funded their operations and publicly urged their supporters to do the same.”
Reuters provides more: “Energy Transfer is being represented by the Kasowitz Benson Torres & Friedman law firm, whose founding partner Marc Kasowitz is President Donald Trump’s lawyer.
“Greenpeace said this is the second time Kasowitz’s firm has gone after the group. Last year it represented Resolute Forest Products in a defamation lawsuit brought by the global logging company against Greenpeace. … The case is Energy Transfer Equity LP v. Greenpeace International, 17-cv-173, US District Court, District of North Dakota (Bismarck).”
As a reminder here, the Dakota Access Pipeline began operations in May, though the US Army Corps of Engineers is reportedly now reviewing the project, leaving the door open to a possible change of approval.
Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
CleanTechnica Holiday Wish Book
Our Latest EVObsession Video
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here.
