By Eric Kronback

As a lifelong resident of Lamberton, and someone who has negotiated and signed an easement with Summit Carbon Solutions, I am confused by much of the negativity shown towards the pipeline in our community.

The ethanol industry is the best thing to happen to corn prices and corn producers. Currently, the ethanol industry is threatened. The introduction of electric cars and CO2 emission standards to all industries puts ethanol in a tough spot. Summit’s proposed pipeline will ensure that Minnesota ethanol is here for decades to come.

By capturing the CO2 emissions from ethanol plants, Minnesota operators will be able to sell their corn into low-carbon fuel markets for a premium, a premium that will keep corn prices high for the foreseeable future. I am disheartened to hear that some of my neighbors don’t understand the benefit that this project would have on our community.

Many of my neighbors and I are invested in Highwater Ethanol and have benefited from a strong partnership with Highwater. Summit’s proposed pipeline will ensure that our partnership continues for decades to come. Highwater Ethanol is critical to the economic fabric of Lamberton and without projects like these, I fear the worst for Highwater and ethanol plants across our state.

Much of the coffee shop talk that I hear surrounds the phrase “people over profits.” Summit has been transparent that this project will be profitable for them.

However, I remember a time when our community was thrilled that a natural gas pipeline was introduced to Lamberton, another profitable venture. The fact is, natural gas pipelines have a far more dangerous history than CO2 pipelines, which have led to zero casualties over decades of use in the United States.

Not only does the pipeline bring benefits to the ethanol industry, but working with Summit on an easement was a pleasant process. I worked with Summit’s land agents to find the best route for the pipeline on my property. The land agents understood my desire to avoid crop disruption and we negotiated an easement that worked best for me.

To conclude, I ask community members to stop villainizing landowners who have signed easements. Many of us that have signed understand the benefits that this will bring to our entire community. Furthermore, I urge my fellow landowners and community members to listen, put negativity aside, and to come to the table with Summit to hear the benefits that this project would bring to our area.

— Eric Kronback is a resident of Lamberton