Carbon capture meetings meant to 'educate,' 'not promote' a pipeline

Apr. 15—FARGO — A gathering of growers, North Dakota legislators and agriculture and energy leaders heard about opportunities ahead for incorporating carbon capture technology within those industries.

Approximately 75 people listened in on panel discussions — including one about growing demand for sustainable aviation fuel made from ethanol — with Doug Goehring, North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner, and Collin Peterson, senior advisor for the American Carbon Alliance and a former Minnesota congressman.

The Monday, April 15 gathering was put on by Friends of Ag & Energy, a nonprofit headed by oil businesswoman Kathy Neset and conservative media figure Scott Hennen.

It was similar to now-postponed meetings that had initially been scheduled for Tuesday in Bismarck and Fargo. The meetings

drew controversy because they were initially billed as being for state legislators only.

Dustin Gawrylow, who runs the North Dakota Watchdog Network, and two Democratic lawmakers were critical of the closed meetings, prompting Hennen to open them up. Hennen announced Tuesday the meetings were being postponed to allow for more notice.

New dates for the Bismarck and Fargo meetings have not been announced.

The Tuesday meetings were set to feature Harold Hamm, executive chairman of Continental Resources, and Bruce Rastetter, executive chairman of Summit Agriculture Group.

Both are major investors in Summit Carbon Solutions proposed pipeline.

Carbon capture involves trapping carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels

and storing it as a means of lessening effects of climate change.

Summit's proposed regional carbon dioxide pipeline has been

controversial in several states including North Dakota,

where some landowners oppose it. Summit defends the project, maintaining it is safe and has broad landowner support.

Goehring said since there is a developing industry focused on carbon capture, the state should use it to its benefit.

"I may not like how the whole pipeline issue has transpired but I do see value in it on the back end," he said, referring to a clumsy start by Summit in its approach to landowners.

"Our job is not to promote any pipelines ... it's to educate the public about carbon and what these rules are and so forth," Peterson said.

If ethanol plants can't get their carbon intensity score low enough, they may miss out on the growing demand for sustainable aviation fuel.

Peterson said the potential is there to double or even triple the size of the ethanol industry if plants can get into those markets.

"It can't do anything but improve the value of the farmer's product because there's more demand," Peterson said.

Mark Belter, a member of the North Dakota Corn Growers Association, is eager to get in on the sustainable aviation fuel market.

He farms in the Leonard area and said the proposed pipeline is planned to go across his land along Highway 18 south of Casselton.

He's signed off on a landowner agreement with Summit, describing it as "taking one for the team."

"You'd always rather it be somewhere else but it's got to be somewhere if it's going to happen," Belter said.