The future of a big carbon capture project in the Midwest was thrown off balance after a new South Dakota law was adopted. Rural property owners made a big push for the policy and their organizing is getting noticed.

South Dakota's governor just signed a bill prohibiting eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines. It is in response to a proposed line where the company behind it has not secured all the voluntary land agreements it needs. Worried landowners found sympathetic ears in the Legislature.

Sarah Jaynes, executive director of the Rural Democracy Initiative, said outcomes like these reflect the mindset of smaller communities when big projects come their way, potentially affecting their way of life.

"Rural people are not in the habit of fighting things," Jaynes pointed out. "They're in the habit of taking a close look at what's proposed for their communities after decades of exploitation."

She is referring to corporations outsourcing jobs from rural areas, as well as agricultural firms wanting to add larger animal feedlot operations. Jaynes noted the decline of local news outlets is likely playing a role in how communities are responding. Without access to key information, residents are enhancing their coordination to have a bigger voice.

The multistate carbon pipeline is proposed by Summit Carbon Solutions, which wants to capture ethanol plant emissions and store them underground. It touts economic and environmental benefits but some skeptics see it as a power grab, especially if objecting landowners are forced to let it run along their property through eminent domain.

Jaynes explained in a broader sense, rural residents are not confined to narratives about what they care about.

"They want to make sure that they have clean air and water and access to nature," Jaynes emphasized. "They want to take care of their land."

Such sentiments have surfaced in polling from the Rural Democracy Initiative.

As for the Summit project, the new law might lead to a legal challenge. Summit has won permit approval in other states and is trying again in South Dakota. But the uncertainty, along with the land restrictions, could make it harder to begin construction. The governor insists the action will not kill the project, calling it an "opportunity for a needed reset."


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Despite debate in Washington over ending incentives to help Alaska's smallest places move away from traditional oil and gas-based power generation in the most remote parts of Alaska, one village above the Arctic Circle has found success and plans to invest.

Kotlik, a Yupik native village nestled on the banks of the Yukon River is using alternative energy as an economic driver.

Richard Bender, president and CEO of Kotlik Village Corporation, said the village has developed a three-phase plan to move away from oil and gas-based power to generate electricity for its 600 residents.

"Phase 1 is to purchase a battery storage system and switch gear," Bender outlined. "Phase 2 of Kotlik's energy plan is to produce energy using solar panels. Phase 3 is production of electricity using wind turbines."

Despite the success of places like Kotlik, and its aggressive plans for future alternative energy development, Washington lawmakers are debating a budget bill which would eliminate tax incentives for investing in clean power in rural Alaska, which could reduce funding for the projects the village depends on.

Kotlik collaborated with the Alaska Public Interest Research Group to produce a video about the project, which Bender noted goes beyond providing sources of alternative energy to the village.

"In addition to energy sovereignty, and sustainability, this project will have a positive impacts on health education and workforce development," Bender explained.

Bender added creating stability in those areas will spill over into different parts of the community and help the village keep people working at home, rather than moving to other places.


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The mayor of a rural Utah town said the clean energy investments and tax credits created by the Inflation Reduction Act are helping drive economic growth and diversify her town's energy portfolio.

Lenise Peterman, mayor of Helper, stressed tax credits have been vital for communities like hers as they help modernize their systems. But the budget reconciliation package now in Congress would eliminate major parts of Inflation Reduction Act funding, including clean energy investments.

Peterman said it could be detrimental to local people who have been able to harness the power of tax credits to grow their businesses.

"The jobs are there," Peterman emphasized. "We just need to ensure that we have the educational resources available - especially to people who may be transitioning out of a traditional coal plant or coal mining, to be able to step into those roles. But the roles are there."

She added while federal dollars in rural communities affect fewer people, their effect is triple that of urban communities. Peterman said the Inflation Reduction Act incentives will foster energy independence as power use and costs are projected to increase. Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, has been an outspoken critic of sunsetting the credits.

Peterman pointed out Helper is in a unique position, since the town of about 2,200 residents owns and operates its own electric grid. It purchases power from transmission stations but Peterman said they face challenges due to the town's aging and limited infrastructure. She sees the tax credits as part of the solution.

"For me, it's about hardening the grid so that we can then incorporate other energy types, which I hope will drive costs down for the consumers," Peterman underscored. "Because now we'll have options and not be beholden to a single energy source."

Republican leadership in Congress is hoping to pass the big budget bill and have it signed by President Donald Trump before July 4. Peterman hopes politicians are able to reach consensus and do what is best for all, rural and urban alike.

"I'm hopeful that we can move past the partisan positions that people seem to be stuck in and do what's best for all of the people," Peterman added. "I really hope that comes to fruition."


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It is not just the weather or commodity prices farmers have to worry about. Many rural communities struggle to keep their roads and bridges in good shape, making farming life even harder and now, North Dakota is trying to correct the issue.

This year, state lawmakers have expanded eligibility for agriculture infrastructure grants awarded to towns with populations under 1,500.

Rob Schmidt, chairman of the Olivier County Commission and a rancher in Hensler, said it is welcome news because some local roads have self-imposed speed limits of 25 miles an hour because of the shape they are in, citing the effects from heavy truck traffic linked to a nearby refinery and an ethanol plant.

"Basically, there's no local money to fix that wear," Schmidt explained. "Any money that would come from the state would certainly be appreciated to help remedy that."

Schmidt, also a member of the North Dakota Farmers Union, is hopeful some jurisdictions in his part of the state are able to take advantage of the changes. Oliver County's total population is around 2,000, with the biggest town home to 500 people. The grant program was established in 2023.

Schmidt noted rebuilding roads and bridges could join other quality-of-life benchmarks his county is trying to highlight in the long-standing push to attract residents.

"We've got a very nice school here and we've got all the infrastructure in place in town to be thriving a lot more than we are," Schmidt emphasized.

He acknowledged even when a smaller town makes infrastructure improvements and attracts more industry, it does not always result in bigger population numbers. He said they have had issues in the past where people might take a new job in the area but still commute from elsewhere.