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North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska are among the states included in a proposed pipeline project pitched by Summit Carbon Solutions, where emissions from ethanol plants would be captured and stored underground. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 25, 2024

New hearings, same arguments on both sides for ND pipeline project

A round of public testimony wrapped up this week as part of renewed efforts by a company seeking permit approval in North Dakota for an underground pi…

In a new poll, 85% of North Dakota voters said they probably wouldn't buy an electric car the next time they purchased a vehicle. (Adobe Stock)

Poll on climate change shows some in ND yet to be convinced

North Dakota voters are divided on climate change matters, according to new polling data. To get more community buy-in for climate solutions…

In a multistate project, Summit Carbon Solutions wants to capture carbon emissions from Midwestern ethanol plants and run those emissions through a maze of pipelines to be stored underground in North Dakota. (Adobe Stock)

ND law at center of carbon pipeline fight now under scrutiny

A North Dakota lawmaker is calling into question a state law change that drew a lot of attention this week. At issue is a regulatory decision for a …

Summit Carbon Solutions is seeking land agreements and permit approval in several Midwestern states, including North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa, for a proposed pipeline that would collect carbon emissions from ethanol plants and store them underground. (Adobe Stock)

After ND Permit Rejection, Carbon Pipeline Opponents Won't Rest

Groups tracking energy policy in the Midwest are sizing up the impact of North Dakota's decision to decline a permit for a controversial pipeline proj…

Coal dust is one of several sources of soot, the fine particulate matter which has major effects on people's health. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Hears from Public, Clean Air Groups on 'Soot Standards'

The federal government is gathering public input on improving air-quality standards for soot. Environmental voices in the Midwest and elsewhere say …

Facilities manager Wes Davis at Turtle Mountain Community College is at work at his desk. A miniature wind turbine sits on its surface. (Photo by Jessica Plance/Homegrown Stories)

A Vision for Tribal Sovereignty Through Sustainable Energy

By Jessica Plance for Homegrown Stories via The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Prairie News Service for the Public News Service/Daily…

Crickets are now being used in some types of pet food as an alternative source of protein. (Adobe Stock)

Taking the 'Bark' Out of Carbon Emissions Linked to Pet Food Production

By Claire Elise Thompson for Grist.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Prairie News Service reporting for the Grist-Public News Service Collaboration …

If it secures all the necessary permits and land agreements, Summit Carbon Solutions says it hopes to have its multi-state underground carbon pipeline operational sometime in 2024. (Adobe Stock)

Local Ordinances Enter Carbon Pipeline Debate

There's a new dynamic in the fight over a proposed carbon pipeline for North Dakota and other Midwestern states. Counties are exploring drafting …

The Environmental Defense Fund estimates methane emissions account for at least 25% of global warming. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Oilfield Gas Flares More Harmful than Previously Thought

A new study found gas flaring in oil-producing states like North Dakota is not as effective in limiting harmful emissions when compared to long-standi…

Summit Carbon solutions has been seeking voluntary land agreements with private property owners in multiple states for its underground carbon storage project. (Adobe Stock)

ND Landowners Continue Mobilization in Opposing Carbon Pipeline

Next week, North Dakota landowners will get a chance to hear updates on a proposed underground pipeline for transporting and sequestering carbon …

Supporters of storing carbon emissions from ethanol plants underground tout the benefits in the threat of climate change. But opponents say it would likely result in greater reliance on fossil fuels. (Adobe Stock)

ND Landowners Build Opposition to Land Use for Carbon Pipeline

The list of North Dakota counties voicing concerns about a proposed carbon-emissions pipeline is growing longer. Several are now on record opposing …

Without enough support for sustainable agriculture, some industry groups say extreme weather events will put more pressure on farmers and ranchers, leading to higher food prices. (Adobe Stock)

Climate Report Spurs Calls for Diversity in Ag Production

After last year's extreme drought in states such as North Dakota, a new United Nations report found it will be harder to adapt to future effects …

When it comes to sustainable agriculture, North Dakota ranks in the middle of the pack for practices such as cover crops. But it has made big gains in recent years. (Adobe Stock)

USDA Program Adds New Twists to Selling Sustainable Agriculture

Farmers in North Dakota and across the U.S. have been encouraged to adopt climate-friendly practices. The federal government is adding financial …

During the industrial era, the U.N. says, methane emissions have accounted for nearly 30% of global warming. (Adobe Stock)

U.N. Report Reinforces Methane Concerns in ND

MANDAREE, N.D. -- The climate-change threat has been described as a "code red for humanity" as part of a new United Nations report on global warming…

When it's extremely hot, energy-efficiency experts say even just raising your thermostat a degree or two during certain times can help reduce grid demand. (Adobe Stock)

Before Cranking Up the AC, Think of the Energy Burden

BISMARCK, N.D. - It's been tempting for North Dakota residents to blast their air conditioners during the early-summer heat wave. With hot and sticky …

In oil-dependent states such as North Dakota, carbon-capture technology for fossil-fuel plants has become a controversial strategy in the effort to reduce harmful emissions. (Adobe Stock)

ND Governor's Carbon Goals Met With Mixed Response

BISMARCK, N.D. -- Gov. Doug Burgum wants North Dakota to be carbon-neutral by the end of the decade, and while environmentalists applaud his desire …

President Joe Biden has set a goal of eliminating pollution from fossil fuels in the power sector by 2035, and from the U.S. economy overall by 2050. (Adobe Stock)

ND Group: Biden Moratorium on Oil Leases "Good Step"

BISMARCK, N.D. -- President Joe Biden has placed a freeze on new oil and gas leases on public lands and waters. A North Dakota conservation group …

Industry observers say the coal industry isn't just closing smaller, inefficient plants. Larger plants also are being phased out due to shifts in the energy market. (Adobe Stock)

ND Coal Plant Could Produce Jobs through Reclamation

UNDERWOOD, N.D. -- North Dakota leaders want to find a new owner for the state's largest coal-fired power plant, which is slated to close in 2022…

Coal Creek Station, North Dakota's largest coal plant, has been operating since 1979 but will cease production by the end of 2022. (Adobe Stock)

North Dakota's Largest Coal-Fired Power Plant to Close

UNDERWOOD, N.D. - The Upper Midwest will see a seismic shift in energy production after a Minnesota-based utility announced it will close a coal …

A Trump administration proposal would exempt some large infrastructure projects, such as pipelines, from environmental review. (Jason Woodhead/Flickr)

Rolling Back Environmental Review Could Hurt ND Tribes

BISMARCK, S.D. -- A Trump administration proposal to roll back an environmental-review law for large projects could harm North Dakota tribal …

State regulators say 16% of oil produced in North Dakota in October was shipped out by rail. (Roy Luck/Flickr)

Spring Spill Raises Concern About ND Rail Terminal's Future

DICKINSON, N.D. -- Even minor changes to oil movement by rail are under scrutiny in North Dakota because of its potential public safety hazard…

The 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg began

ND Strike: Youths are 'Adults in the Room' on Climate Change

FARGO, N.D. – People demanding action on climate change are walking out of school and work on Friday in Fargo and around the world. Global …

The Dakota Access pipeline currently ships about 500,000 barrels of oil per day from North Dakota to Illinois. (Tony Webster/Flickr)

ND Commission Agrees to Hearing on DAPL Expansion Plans

BISMARCK, N.D. – A public hearing is scheduled to evaluate a request to double the amount of crude oil flowing through the Dakota Access …

North Dakota is the number two crude oil producer in the nation, which new analysis says contributed to the loss of 2.4 million acres of natural landscapes in the state from 2011 to 2017. (porchlife/Flickr)

ND Ranks First Among Lower 48 States for Loss of Natural Landscapes

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. is losing its wild landscape to energy, transportation, agriculture and urbanization at a rate of two football …

The North Dakota oil and gas industry has failed to meet flaring capture goals five months in a row. (Western Organization of Resource Councils)

State, Federal Regulations Ease on ND Methane Flaring

BISMARCK, N.D. - With the state's recent decision to relax methane-flaring regulations and the federal government deferring to states, North Dakota …

There are more than 1,400 oil and gas wells located on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. (Tim Evanson/Flickr)

Groups Sue Trump Administration Over Waste-Prevention Rule Rollback

BISMARCK, N.D. — A coalition of groups, including members of the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota, are suing the Trump administration …

The 2015 Clean Power Plan was projected to cut carbon emissions to 19 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. (x1klima/Flickr)

Critics: Clean Power Plan Replacement Would Weaken Air Protections

BISMARCK, N.D. – The public can now comment on the Trump administration's proposal to replace the Clean Power Plan, an Obama-era rule aimed at …

A recent study found methane flaring from oil and gas operations is 60 percent higher than previously thought. (gfpeck/Flickr)

Conservatives for Stewardship: Methane Waste 'Fiscally Irresponsible'

BISMARK, N.D. – Critics are concerned about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's expected proposal to roll back rules regulating methane …

Many of the EPA regulations that Scott Pruitt scrapped or delayed as EPA administrator had not yet taken effect before his resignation. (Wikimedia Commons)

Government Watchdog Groups: Pruitt's EPA Exit "Long Overdue"

WASHINGTON – After allegedly overspending on everything from pens to lavish trips and accepting questionable deals from lobbyists, government …

Taxpayers lose about $23 million a year in royalties without stricter regulations on methane flaring, according to U.S. Government Accountability Office estimates. (Tim Evanson/Flickr)

Conservative Group Calls Out Rep. Cramer on Methane Waste Rule

BISMARCK, N.D. — A conservative group is calling out North Dakota Congressman Kevin Cramer for his opposition to a regulation aimed at reducing …

$The link between babies' low birth weights and fracking sites is highly localized, according to recent research. (Jeff Foster/Flickr)$

Study Connects Babies' Low Birth Weights to Fracking Sites

BISMARCK, N.D. -- Pregnant women living next to fracked gas wells are more likely to have a low birth-weight baby - that's the finding in a new study …

A proposed oil refinery would be located within three miles of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. (Matt Zimmerman/Flickr)

Refinery Near National Park Poses Many Hazards, Groups Say

BELFIELD, N.D. – Opposition from local communities is growing against a proposed oil refinery near Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The …

Soybeans are used as biofuels and grown in abundance in the Midwest. (United Soybean Board/Flickr)

Farmers Push for Support of Renewable Fuels

BISMARCK, N.D. - Farmers in North Dakota and across the country are pushing policymakers in Washington to support renewable fuels. The National …

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's decision to delay a methane waste rule was deemed illegal for the agency's failure to properly notify the public. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

BLM Seeks to Delay Methane Waste Rule, But Judge Says That's Illegal

BISMARCK, N.D. – The Interior Department and courts appear to be at odds over a rule that prevents the waste of methane and gas on drilling …

North Dakotans in the Bakken region, where oil production is most heavily concentrated, have reported health problems they believe are the result of air pollution. (Tim Evanson/Flickr)

Report: An Invisible Health Menace from Flaring in ND

BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakotans are still fighting air pollution, even as the Environmental Protection Agency takes the next steps toward …

North Dakota's two U.S. senators disagreed on the fate of a BLM rule that prevents methane-gas venting and flaring at oil developments on public and tribal land. (Tim Evanson/Flickr)

ND Tribes Say Keeping Methane-Waste Rule a Win; ND Senators Split

BISMARCK, N.D. -- North Dakota tribes say the U.S. Senate's decision not to overturn a rule requiring energy developers to limit methane gas leaks …

Coal mined on public lands accounts for a growing share of greenhouse gases. (Boston Public Library)

Coal Mining Report Finds Connection to Greenhouse Gases

BISMARCK, N.D. – A new report acknowledges that coal mined on public land accounts for 11 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions…

Rule changes to limit natural gas waste on public lands are creating disagreements. (Jerry Oster)

Rule Changes Coming to Limit Natural-Gas Waste on Public Lands

FARGO, N.D. – As the clock ticks down on the Obama administration's final days, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has finalized rules to …

A new report says we need to plant more trees for the sake of our health. (Jerry Oster)

More Trees Could Lead to a Healthier Planet

FARGO N.D. -- A new report looking at the impact that trees have on our health finds that we need to start planting more of them. The Planting …

The National Rural Assembly is focused on involving young people in order to revive rural America. (gfpeck/flickr)

Vital to Invigorating Rural America: Including Young People

BISMARCK, N.D. – A nationwide movement aimed at improving the quality of life in rural America, including North Dakota, says it's focused on …

A new survey shows two-thirds of young Republican voters believe humans are to blame for climate change. (Charity Nix/flickr)

Big Issue for Young Republicans? Climate Change

BISMARCK, N.D. – Young conservatives overwhelmingly feel man-made climate change is a real problem, according to new national poll. These GOP …

In 2014, about 200 industrial-sized garbage bags full of oil production waste were found in an abandoned gas station in Noonan, ND. (Dakota Resource Council)

ND Judge Says New Toxic Rules Meeting Can Go Forward

BISMARCK, N.D. – After North Dakota's Health Council approved new toxic waste rules during what turned out to be an illegal public meeting last …

The EPA says airlines aren't doing enough to control the greenhouse gas pollution emitted by their jet engines. (iStockphoto)

Airplane Emissions Ruled a Threat by EPA

BISMARCK, N.D. -- Greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft engines endanger public health and welfare, according to new findings from the federal …

$A hydraulic fracking well extracts resources at a North Dakota oil field. (iStockphoto)$

BLM Fracking Rule Struck Down by Federal Judge

BISMARCK, N.D. – In a blow to the Obama administration's environmental agenda, a federal judge has struck down the Bureau of Land Management's …

A new survey of air-quality alerts for ozone and particle pollution lists several North Dakota county rankings as slipping for the first time in years. (iStockphoto)

North Dakota Air Quality Slips as Standards Tighten

BISMARCK, N.D. - For the first time in several years, North Dakota's air quality is getting less-than perfect marks in the latest State of the Air …

New numbers show North Dakota has the highest percentage of clean-energy jobs per capita in the Midwest. (iStockphoto)

Report: ND a Standout in Clean-Energy Job Creation

BISMARCK, N.D. - North Dakota is one of the top states in the Midwest for jobs in the clean-energy field, according to a new report. The Clean Jobs …

Some North Dakota tribal leaders are backing plans to clarify when oil companies owe royalties on flared gas. (iStockphoto)

ND Tribal Leaders Backing BLM's Flaring Rules

BISMARCK, N.D. - As federal regulators consider new rules to curb gas flaring at oil wells on public and tribal lands, North Dakotans are being asked …

New federal rules could severely limit methane flaring at North Dakota's tribal and public gas wells. (iStockphoto)

New Rules Seek to Limit Flaring on Tribal, Federal Lands

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. soon could see tighter restrictions on oil and gas flaring, and, if approved, that could have some long-term effects …

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