Midlands Voices: Carbon capture utilization and storage technology critical to Corn Belt farms' profitability

As farmers across Iowa and Nebraska prepare for the quickly approaching planting season, it is important to take time to reflect on how our work in the heartland has a global impact. We work tireless hours to feed and fuel the world because that is what keeps the world moving. We must also consider the possibility of what may happen to our work if the agriculture industry does not continue to innovate.

Carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) technology has been widely discussed in coffee shops, townhalls, and online over the past two years. These are important conversations to have to learn more information about safety, the impact of the project construction on tiling, and many other topics. It will be critical to the survival of the agriculture industry to construct and operate projects such as Navigator CO2’s Heartland Greenway.

I am impressed with the honest conversations the Navigator CO2 team has been having with landowners, elected leaders, county leaders, and EMS services around the redundant safety mechanisms that have been put in place. From the 24/7, 365 monitoring, foot and vehicle patrols, aerial patrol, and state-of-the-art leak detection system, we can rest assured of the safety of this important technology.

Ask any farmer what their most valuable asset is, and most of them will share that it is their land. The Navigator CO2, which is based out of Omaha, grew up on farms and share that same sentiment. Their mission is to be good neighbors in the community, which is why the pipe will be installed a minimum of five feet below the ground’s surface. In fact, in many places the pipe will be deeper as the company is committed to maintaining a one-foot separation below field drainage tile and two-foot separation from other existing utilities the project may cross.

With these assurances in place, it becomes clearer more than ever why we need CCUS technology to move forward. By capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide from ethanol production, we can secure the future of ethanol as an extremely low carbon liquid fuel that will be in high demand in our own country and globally. Some low carbon claims are just smoke and mirrors. The Heartland Greenway’s technology is a very honest and forward claim to low carbon ethanol fuel.

I encourage landowners across the Corn Belt to continue to have these important conversations with not only Navigator CO2, but also their local tiling experts and members of the ethanol industry to learn the accurate information from the experts. With this newfound knowledge, I believe many will see the opportunity the Heartland Greenway presents to the agriculture industry and why we must support it. The ethanol industry is critical to profitability on our farms, this CCUS is a technology that will assure the corn ethanol place in liquid fuels is extended far into the future.

Steve Milliken writes, “I am convinced that students with disabilities and their families are fortunate to be in Nebraska. Focusing on the failures doesn’t help, but strategically moving forward and embracing and building upon the successes will make a difference.”

Midlands Voices: Balancing the right to vote with voter photo ID

John Gale writes, “Maybe some purposeful blending can keep voter photo ID constitutional under Nebraska law and our election system fair and reasonable for access by all Nebraska registered voters.”

Midlands Voices: A lesson about war from 'Federalist No. 4'

Jay Jackson writes, “Friday marked one year since the illegal and unwarranted full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Putin’s “peacekeeping” has, of course, done just the opposite: thousands of Ukrainian civilians have died and Russian military forces have met a fierce and determined Ukrainian resistance.”

Midlands Voices: Time to push for diplomacy in Ukraine

Chris Chappelear writes, “The only thing Congress is interested in is flooding Ukraine with weapons and keeping the war going.”

Midlands Voices: Most Nebraska physicians agree, an abortion ban is dangerous for women

Mary Kinyoun, M.D., writes, “We are not a small group of physicians opposing this bill, we are the majority. We understand that this bill will harm the women of Nebraska, as similar legislation has harmed women in Texas.”

Midlands Voices: We need acknowledge discrimination and injustice — past and present

The Rev. Dr. Paul H. Moessner writes, “While we may not bear guilt as individuals, we need to acknowledge ways in which society has discriminated and injustice has resulted.”

Midlands Voices: LB 753 lacks private school accountability, transparency measures

Stu Dornan and Kris Karnes write, “Put simply, (LB 753) reroutes state funds to private schools that do not provide equal access for all Nebraska children or transparency or accountability with respect to those funds.”

Midlands Voices: To Nebraska's lawmakers, don't place one religion's theology over another's

Joanna Alexander writes, “I pray that you will not allow one faith to damage the religious freedom of another by ignoring our theological differences.”

Midlands Voices: Is religious freedom secure?

Don Stenberg writes, “Why is a law that only 30 years ago brought together liberal Democrats, conservative Republicans, the ACLU and the Christian Legal Society controversial today?”

Midlands Voices: How Nebraska's George Norris 'unhorsed' the Speaker of the House 113 yeas ago

Randy Moody writes, “The same drama played out on the House floor 113 years ago. That 1910 revolt was led by disgruntled Republican populists on the left, not 2023 Republican populist firebrands on the right.”

Midlands Voices: Engaging with older adults now in preparation for the future

Julie Masters writes, “For younger adults to appreciate the aging experience and to pursue a career in the field of gerontology, finding opportunities to connect generations is a pedagogical necessity.”

Midlands Voices: Greater Omaha Chamber thanks Logan, offers support to new OPS leader

Veta Jeffery, president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, writes, “We would like the OPS board to know that the Omaha business community is in full support of the work it does, and we offer to be helpful as it embarks upon the hiring process to replace Dr. Logan.”

Midlands Voices: 'When I remember bygone days': a baby boomer reflects

James Luebbe writes that at least 21 great changes have taken place during the lives of his generation — the baby boomers.

Midlands Voices: The Unicameral needs to leave trans youth alone

Jacob Carmichael writes, Legislative Bills 371, 574 and 575 “should be viewed as what they are: threats.”

Midlands Voices: The fashion police are coming to Nebraska

Gwenn Aspen writes, “The fashion police are coming to Nebraska with the anti-drag bill, LB 371.”

Midlands Voices: End home equity theft in Nebraska

Christina Martin writes, “From 2014 through 2021, local governments in Nebraska seized and sold at least 300 Nebraskan homes. Homeowners’ lost savings amounted to an average of 86% of the home’s value.”

Midlands Voices: All of Omaha’s living mayors agree on one thing: a streetcar

All of Omaha living mayors say Omaha’s streetcar plan is a critical investment that will take the city into the next 34 years and well beyond.

Midlands Voices: Nebraska Heartbeat Bill provides sound 'life of the mother' protections

Dr. Arthur Grinstead writes, “The Nebraska Heartbeat Act explicitly permits abortions even after a baby’s heartbeat is present when there is a “medical emergency.”

Julius Schaaf of Randolph, Iowa, is past chairman of the U.S Grains Council and has farmed in southwest Iowa for many years.