Lori Hinz, reporter for BEK News, gives a weekly update from the research on her daily feature on Capturing America’s Heartland: CO2 Pipeline on Townsquare Media SuperTalk 1270AM’s Talk of the Town with host Steve Bakken.
This week the two discuss a recent North Dakota Public Service Commission hearing scheduled for Summit Carbon Solutions’ Midwest Express Carbon Pipeline Project where North Dakota is the terminus for the carbon storage.
Hinz was at the meeting, taking notes and reports for her news content partners.
“I watched the entire thing,” Hinz said. “I was there for the entire nine hours of the Public Service Commission meeting.”
Host Steve Bakken asked about the rumors of the word “perjury” being used after the Public Service Commission meeting regarding one of the executives for Summit Carbon Solutions.
“Okay, perjury is a pretty strong term, and I don't know what else to call it,” Bakken said.
Hinz agreed perjury is a strong word, however, it is a reality. Currently, the Morton County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the Public Service Commission meeting for perjury.
The perjury investigation is directed towards Wade Boeshans and his comments made under oath regarding landowners and developers words and wishes towards the carbon pipeline.
“Chad Moldenhauer, owner of K&L Homes and member of the Bismarck Intervenors Group, said he was not planning on testifying, but felt he needed to appear and correct what he called untrue statements made by (Wade) Boeshans (of Summit Carbon Solutions),” Hinz reported and then continued playing the audio of Moldenhauer’s testimony.
“In no way have I collaborated with Summit Carbon Solutions to determine this new route. Any assertions made by Mr. Boeshans or Summit Carbon Solutions that I participated in their decision to place this route where it is right now is a lie and a complete fabrication,” the audio testimony from the ND PSC meeting said.
After Moldenhauer concluded his testimony, another five people testified Hinz reported.
The controversial carbon project has grown from 31 ethanol plants to 57 plants after another carbon pipeline project, Navigator CO2 Ventures, abandoned its plans several months ago. North Dakota would be the terminus for the entire storage of corn carbon waste.
The tax credits for carbon storage are set to expire in 12 years.
Furthermore, the oil and gas industry in North Dakota wants more carbon but Summit says it remains committed to underground storage.
According to the North Dakota Monitor, North Dakota’s oil industry sees strong potential in using carbon dioxide for enhanced oil recovery — pumping gas underground to force oil toward a drilled well.
“We don’t have any customers today approaching us about enhanced oil recovery,” Lee Blank, CEO of Summit Carbon Solutions, told the North Dakota Monitor in an interview.
The Summit plan is to store carbon dioxide emissions from ethanol plants in underground wells northwest of Bismarck. The Department of Mineral Resources has set a hearing for June 11-12 on that part of the project.
For the underground storage to happen, Summit needs permits in North Dakota and other states for pipelines to carry the greenhouse gasses to the storage site.
Other ND PSC hearings are scheduled for May 24 at the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton and June 4 at Our Club in Linton.
The two discuss South Dakota’s role in the carbon pipeline. Specifically South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.
“The tentacles through her administration and former administration and family members that are involved in the pipeline and with Summit, whether ancillary or directly,” Bakken said. “Oh, my gosh. You talk about the level of depravity between the governor's office here in North Dakota and Summit Carbon Solutions and some elected officials here in North Dakota and Summit Carbon Solutions, it pales in comparison to what's going on in South Dakota.”
Hinz shared a story about some of the unprofessional and unsafe practices currently being used by the pipeline company.
“You will find all sorts of clips of him doing all sorts of different media and just telling people about what his experience has been with Summit Carbon Solutions,” Hinz said. “It started when his wife was in the farmhouse and he was out in a field 10 miles away.”
Hinz continued reporting on the incident involving the private landowners and the pipeline company.
“Because he has like a calf, a cow-calf camera, right, out in his barns. And so he was able to get and save the video of the people literally going into his outbuildings without permission,” Hinz said. “Because he has like a calf, a cow-calf camera, right, out in his barns. And so he was able to get and save the video of the people literally going into his outbuildings without permission.”
Next, Hinz shared some disturbing details in South Dakota and Summit Carbon Solutions.
They were going into, they knocked on the door at the house and then his wife was upstairs taking a shower and she heard somebody in the house and they are hollering at her.”
“That’s how people get shot,” Bakken replied.
“Exactly right,” Hinz said. “And so she had she had just had surgery, so she was slow to come down. By the time she came down, she saw that there was some weird random Louisiana plate car or truck on their farm.”
And that’s just the Dakotas.
“Want to hear something horrific?” Hinz asked. “It’s even worse in Iowa. It’s even worse.”
BEK TV host Lori Hinz brings weekly updates in Capturing America’s Heartland: CO2 Pipeline, which invites experts on all sides of the issue to weigh in on a variety of concerns and benefits regarding building an unusually large pipeline so close to residents and property owners.
From reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing domestic oil production, to significant technical, regulatory, and health and safety challenges, the series explores how the proposed route could affect the Heartland of America.
Capturing America’s Heartland: CO2 Pipeline airs weekdays at 9 AM.
Hinz is also the RNC National Committeewoman for North Dakota.
Bakken is a native of Grand Forks, North Dakota. He began his career as a radio host at the age of 12 and has spent time in several major markets during his radio career. After returning to North Dakota, he served as host of “What's on your mind?” and “Energy Matters” on KFYR 550. Bakken served as the business development manager for Larson Engineering and owner of SB Productions.
Bakken attended the University of North Dakota. Bakken is a big outdoorsman and loves to pheasant hunt in his free time. He also loves to show his Gordon Setters at dog shows around the country. Bakken is married to wife Wendy and enjoys spending time on the river with her.
Bakken is the current Burliegh County Chairman and the former Mayor of Bismarck.
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Is North Dakota in the Public Service Perjury Business?