Letter: Carbon capture, sequestration important part of North Dakota’s energy future

Oct 23, 2021 Updated Oct 30, 2021

Over the past decade and more, North Dakota has embraced emerging industries that produced job creation and economic growth beyond the national average. As a result, our state has been well positioned to withstand the inevitable economic downturns, including the ongoing fallout from the global health pandemic, trade wars, and more. Even with those challenges, North Dakota is poised to unlock new opportunities to bring about long-term economic gains for families and communities across the state. Carbon capture and sequestration, particularly within the ethanol industry, top the list.

While there are certainly differing opinions on the impact of carbon emissions, the economic benefits of carbon capture and sequestration are undeniable. A number of states have adopted or are considering low carbon fuel standards. These markets pay a premium for fuels with reduced carbon intensity (CI) scores. Ethanol plants utilizing carbon capture and sequestration will immediately realize a substantial reduction in the CI score of their product and put ethanol on track to be a net-zero fuel by the end of the decade. As a result, these facilities can access the growing low carbon fuel markets and earn a more substantial profit, bolstering the ethanol industry that here in North Dakota supports more than 10,000 jobs and contributes nearly $650 million to the annual GDP in the United States.

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