Tracker Pixel for Entry

Money Doesn’t Talk, It Screams

Editorial | March 16th, 2022

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

Our opinion: We’re like canaries in the carbon shaft.

There’s been a low rumble on the prairie this winter and for once it’s not due to the weather. Summit Carbon Solutions is looking to lay more than 2000 miles of carbon capture pipeline, going through five states and linking to 31 ethanol plants and one fertilizer plant, carbon being a waste product of ethanol plants.

The end of the carbon line would ultimately end up just northwest of Bismarck and in the Hazen area near Beulah and good ol’ Governor Burgum is one of their biggest cheerleaders.

I find it telling that the most powerful man in North Dakota wants to treat our state as a dump ground for hazardous waste, I mean… pumping a waste product into the earth – what could possibly go wrong?

With regard to the pipeline, when or if there’s a Carbon leak, it’s colorless and odorless. It sucks the oxygen out of the air, causing whoever is nearby, livestock or humans, to suffocate. It’s heavy and lies close to the ground so a basement won’t help you. One farmer from Leola SD mused that it would be best to climb a tree in case of a leak. If only we’d have known about this BEFORE a large number of the shelterbelts had been removed.

Yessiree, Governor Burgum was voted Forbes best entrepreneurial governor in the nation in 2017 and he’s thinking what’s best for the pocket book rather than the folks who voted for him.

At least Harold Hamm can sleep well knowing you get what you pay for when it comes to North Dakota politicians.

So Doug, let’s get real for a moment here, shall we?

You might not realize this, but some of us still live out on the prairie. We’re resourceful people and oftentimes we have to wear a number of hats to keep our communities safe and thriving. Many make their living off of this land that you’re in favor of desecrating with this pipeline.

I’ve run into a lot of farmers out here who are clearly not in favor of these easements. They worry about how their land will be altered. They worry about disturbances in their topsoil and how that will affect their future crops. They’re worried about their livestock getting injured, and their water getting polluted. This land isn’t just a hobby, it’s their livelihood, their legacy. It's their way of life.

And no, these landowners aren’t falling prey to propaganda. The third party Summit reps hosting Q&A meetings in rural North Dakota are providing more Qs than As, encouraging folks not to talk to their neighbors about their easements and not to consult lawyers, because then they can’t work it out together. If they keep talking like that, they might end up as my next manipulative ex-boyfriend.

On February 25 a Q&A meeting was held in Wishek and a lot of questions were asked ranging from environmental issues, to ag issues to what kind of training and equipment first responders will need in case of an emergency. The reps’ answer was, “Well, that’s above my paygrade,” or “It’s too early to tell.”

Yeah, because we’re the canaries in this carbon shaft.

S-U-B-M-I-T TO S-U-M-M-I-T— GOOOO CARBON! Now hold your pom poms Doug...

There are two rural hospitals in McIntosh County. Wishek has 24 beds, Ashley has 20 beds. Lehr is the smallest town in the nation to occupy two counties and in case of a really BAD emergency, the McIntosh County side of Lehr would be lucky to have a bed. As for the Logan County side of Lehr, we’ll just hope they’re good at holding their breath.

It’s almost as if these Summit folks don’t really care about getting people to willingly sign on, I suppose they suspect they’ll have the governor’s blessing to cry eminent domain– but according to one rep when asked, they “don't like to use those words,” then again I suppose they leave a bitter taste in their mouths considering the lawsuit going on in Iowa.

In fact, Summit’s people didn’t even grace the County Commission with their presence until March 10. I can tell you, the commissioners were anything but impressed by their lack of communication.

They are in charge of emergency services and their phones have been ringing off the hook from not only folks from their county but from surrounding counties. This not only made Summit look bad. It made the Commissioners look bad, and the difference is, I know those commissioners are good people– they work for the common good of the county, they aren’t treating their constituents like they’re disposable and they’re definitely not campaigning for greener pastures.

No one from Summit contacted the local press to let anyone know what was going on. In fact, there were a number of phone calls at the newspaper office from concerned citizens wondering if anyone at the paper knew about that February meeting.

To quote the ND artist Modern Man, “Talk is cheap and money doesn’t talk, it screams.”

I don’t own land and I don’t have a pony in the show but I sure hope for the best for these landowners. No one wants to see their neighbors suffer. No one wants to see their neighbors exploited. I hope they put up one heckuva fight – this is a story to keep an eye on.

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comArea children ages 10 and over are invited to join the Fargo-Moorhead Science Museum to explore how rivers work at two Fargo Public Library locations this summer. Stream Table Workshops will…

Back-to-school season is on the horizon, but there's still plenty of summer left. Check out our favorite August attractions and events in North Dakota and western Minnesota. And if if you missed them, here are a few excellent May…

Friday, July 25, doors at 8:30 p.m.Aquarium above Dempsey’s, 226 N. Broadway, Fargo"This is what you need to know about Daikaiju,” said Kelly Weidman. “They're loud. They're all instrumental (duh). And they're the band to see…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com On July fourth, Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest took place at Coney Island. The winners, Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo, reigned victorious. Chestnut earned his 17th title by…

By Ed Raymond fargogadfly@gmail.comThere might be room for Trump on Mount Rushmore after allDuring King Donald’s first term he told Kristi Noem, then a congresswoman and now his secretary of homeland security, his dream was to be…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gion and Simone Wairickgion@gmail.com The Red River Market returned to downtown Fargo on Saturday, July 12. The event will take place every Saturday except July 19. (That date will be moved to Sunday, July 20, due to the…

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comThe Moorhead Public Library will offer three free, all-ages outdoor concerts featuring regional bands this summer. The series begins on June 12 with the Meat Rabbits, a group that blends…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.comAri Aster’s political satire “Eddington” premiered in competition for the Palme d’Or at Cannes in May, where Jafar Panahi’s “It Was Just an Accident” received the prize. A…

Press ReleaseTouchmark at Harwood Groves will host a special artist reception featuring renowned glass artist Jon Offutt on Tuesday, July 29, at 2:00 p.m. in the community’s auditorium. The event celebrates Offutt’s temporary…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comPhoto by Yvonne Denault There is something intimate and personal about plays. Even in our age of multimillion dollar Hollywood productions and droves of streaming services, watching actors…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

The drug that keeps re-purposing itselfBy Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com There is a drug that is getting a lot of attention nowadays all over the world. It has various commercial names (Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus), but…

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson@rocketmail.com Working in the Bakken oil fields of the Williston Basin is so different from my home in Fargo. I'm not judging, because the people working and living in western North Dakota are very…