North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum Eyes Vice Presidential Spot

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has emerged as a major contender to be Donald Trump's running mate in the 2024 presidential election. Known for his executive experience and business acumen, Burgum's close ties to Trump and vocal support could potentially boost donations, particularly from the oil and gas sector, which has already contributed nearly $8 million to Trump's campaign.

Burgum's connections with energy industry CEOs make him an attractive candidate for Trump, who is seeking financial backing for his third bid for the White House. One of Burgum's most significant projects is the $5.5 billion Midwest Carbon Express, a carbon dioxide pipeline that has sparked political division in North Dakota. The pipeline, financed by hundreds of investors and constructed by Summit Carbon Solutions, aims to gather CO2 from ethanol plants across the Midwest and store it underground in central North Dakota.

As chair of the North Dakota Industrial Commission, Burgum will play a critical role in deciding the permit for the CO2 storage. The pipeline aligns with President Joe Biden's climate change initiatives, offering up to $1.5 billion annually in tax credits for CO2 sequestration. However, environmental groups criticize these credits for potentially incentivizing continued fossil fuel use.

Burgum has promoted the state's underground CO2 storage capacity as a “geologic jackpot,” with the potential to store 250 billion tons of CO2 and extract billions more barrels of oil from the Bakken shale formation. Despite these economic prospects, the project faces significant opposition from local landowners and environmentalists.

Concerns about safety have been heightened by a 2020 incident in Satartia, Mississippi, where a CO2 pipeline rupture led to hospitalizations and evacuations. Summit claims their system will transport nearly pure carbon dioxide, unlike the Mississippi pipeline, which contained toxic hydrogen sulfide. Nonetheless, landowners in North Dakota worry about property value declines and have accused Summit of using hardball tactics to secure easements. While Summit has signed easement deals with 82% of landowners along the pipeline route and obtained 92% of the necessary lease agreements at the storage site, resistance remains strong.

Burgum has largely avoided discussing eminent domain, suggesting route adjustments if landowners refuse easements. Critics like Gaylen Dewing, a farmer near Bismarck, have slammed Burgum's carbon neutrality goals, aligning him with the "Green New Deal people." Burgum's stance contrasts sharply with his support for reversing federal rules that stifle energy companies, echoing Trump's energy policies.

With strong support from state lawmakers and emergency managers, the Midwest Carbon Express stands at the intersection of economic opportunity and environmental controversy. Burgum's involvement in this high-stakes project underscores his significant influence on North Dakota's energy future and bolsters his profile as a potential vice presidential candidate.

Conservative Bias:

Here we go again, folks. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, a man of true conservative values, is being targeted by the radical left for daring to support America's energy independence. The liberals are up in arms because Burgum is a strong contender to be Donald Trump's running mate in 2024, and they can't stand it. They are trying to paint Burgum's support for the $5.5 billion Midwest Carbon Express pipeline as some sort of environmental disaster, when in reality, it's a brilliant move to boost our economy and secure our energy future. The left-wing environmentalists are crying about safety concerns and property values, but let's be honest, they just want to shut down any project that doesn't fit their Green New Deal fantasy. Burgum is standing up for American jobs and energy security, and that's why the liberals are desperate to smear him. They can't handle the fact that Burgum's project aligns with President Biden's own climate initiatives, so they're twisting the narrative to make him look like the bad guy. This is classic liberal hypocrisy, folks. They want to have their cake and eat it too, but Burgum isn't playing their game. He's focused on what's best for North Dakota and America, and that's why he's a perfect fit for Trump's ticket.

Liberal Bias:

The audacity of North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum is staggering. Here we have a man who is willing to sell out the environment and the health of his constituents for a shot at being Donald Trump's running mate. Burgum's involvement in the $5.5 billion Midwest Carbon Express pipeline is nothing short of a disaster waiting to happen. This project is a blatant attempt to line the pockets of the oil and gas industry at the expense of local landowners and the environment. The environmental concerns are real and terrifying—just look at the 2020 CO2 pipeline rupture in Mississippi that led to hospitalizations and evacuations. But does Burgum care? Of course not. He's too busy cozying up to energy CEOs and pushing a project that aligns with Trump's disastrous energy policies. The fact that this pipeline is even being considered is a testament to the corrupting influence of big money in politics. Burgum's so-called "geologic jackpot" is nothing more than a ticking time bomb that threatens the safety and property values of North Dakotans. And let's not forget, this project flies in the face of true climate action. Burgum's carbon neutrality goals are a sham, designed to placate critics while he continues to support fossil fuel extraction. This is a man who has no qualms about using hardball tactics to secure easements and silence dissent. His involvement in this high-stakes project is a glaring example of why he is unfit for higher office. The people of North Dakota—and America—deserve better than a governor who prioritizes corporate profits over public safety and environmental sustainability.