Category: Uncategorized

Johnson’s Applauds SCOTUS Ruling on Sackett v. EPA

 Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) issued a statement following the Supreme Court’s decision inSackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) affecting the Biden Administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Sacketts, protecting farmers, ranchers, small businesses, and rural communities across South Dakota and America.

“For years, WOTUS has been used as a political football for Administrations to advance their climate agenda and it’s caused uncertainty and stress for farmers and ranchers,” said Johnson. “Today’s SCOTUS ruling on Sackett v. EPA is a huge win for rural America. Navigable waters cannot include every small puddle, stream, and ditch. I’m glad our agricultural producers will finally have some certainty. I’ll continue working with my colleagues in Congress to prevent the Biden Administration from placing overly burdensome regulations on our producers.”

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Gov. Noem Challenges Board of Regents to Improve Higher Education

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem challenged the South Dakota Board of Regents (BOR) to make South Dakota an example to the nation of what quality higher education should look like. In a letter to the Board, Governor Noem charged them with the responsibility of revitalizing the institutions under its control and leading the nation by example. You can read the full letter here.

Governor Noem began the letter with the following statement:

“Across the nation, higher education is in a state of crisis. For the last several decades, many states have allowed liberal ideologies to poison their universities and colleges. Once a hotbed of ideological diversity, debate, and the pursuit of truth and discovery, many institutions have become one-sided, close-minded, and focused on feelings rather than facts. Professors have discarded reason and logic in favor of subjectivity and relativism. Higher education leaders have rejected universal truth and knowledge and replaced it with ‘individual truth.’

“On campuses across the country, students have been taught the importance of diversity and equity and given access to ‘safe spaces’ instead of learning to tolerate the disagreement, discomfort, and dissent that they will experience in the real world. In many cases, students and their parents are not even aware of the damage these ideas have caused.

“Less than half our students are even graduating, compared to 63% nationally. Students are also graduating with more debt and lower prospects at obtaining gainful employment. 43% of students who completed a college degree were underemployed after graduation. Countless students have been set up for failure – and charged tens of thousands of dollars for their trouble.

“As a country, we should be ashamed of this. As a state, South Dakota can show the nation what quality higher education is supposed to look like.

“I am charging the Board of Regents with the responsibility of revitalizing the institutions under its control and leading the nation by example. We must work together to ensure that we are providing an education that truly prepares our kids for the world they are entering. We must teach our kids a true and honest history of our great country. We must equip them with skills that will enable them to find meaningful, fulfilling careers. We must empower them to improve their communities, engage in the political process as well-educated citizens, and teach their kids to protect the gift we’ve all been given as citizens of the United States of America.”

Governor Noem challenged the Board of Regents to take the following actions:

• Currently, BOR schools have a 47% graduation rate. In 2020, the national graduation rate for public schools was 63%. The Board of Regents should aim to raise graduation rates to at least 65% by 2028;
• Take more steps to partner with businesses on registered apprenticeship programs and offer the lowest possible credit rates;
• Remove all references to preferred pronouns in all school materials and any enforcement of such;
• Remove any policy or procedure that prohibits students from exercising their right to free speech;
• Prohibit drag shows from taking place on university campuses;
• Find ways to cut costs to ensure the affordability of college;
• Require a course in American Government and a course in American history as part of the general education graduation requirements; and,
• Immediately review all funding sources of university centers and all donations to ensure there is no money coming into our education system from China.

Governor Noem also set up a whistleblower hotline for students, parents, taxpayers, and faculty to call to voice concerns about institutions of higher education. The call-in line for the whistleblower hotline is 605-773-5916.

“As Governor, my duty is to protect the people of South Dakota, ensure that their tax burden remains low, and spend those taxpayer dollars wisely. Together, we can and must set an example to the nation of what strong, conservative higher education can look like,” Governor Noem concluded.

Governor Noem recently appointed Jim Lochner and Doug Morrison to the South Dakota Board of Regents. She will be making additional BOR appointments in the near future.

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Summit Carbon Solutions announces NuGen as partner ethanol plant in South Dakota

AMES, Iowa. (May 25, 2023) – Summit Carbon Solutions is proud to announce a significant partnership with NuGen Energy, an ethanol plant in Marion, South Dakota, principally owned by REX American Resources (NYSE: REX).

NuGen joins 32 leading ethanol plants as partners in the transformative carbon capture and storage project led by Summit Carbon Solutions. NuGen Energy began operations in 2008 and has a production capacity of 150,000,000 gallons per year.

Summit Carbon Solutions is leading the development of the world’s largest carbon capture and storage project. Once complete, Summit Carbon Solutions and their partners will safely capture, transport, and permanently store up to 18 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. The project, spanning Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota, significantly reduces the carbon footprint of participating ethanol plants and allows them new market opportunities. This supports an “all of the above” approach to national energy security by enhancing the production of domestic renewable energy and subsequently reducing our reliance on foreign oil.

“We are excited to welcome NuGen to our expanding network of partners,” stated Lee Blank, CEO of Summit Carbon Solutions. “NuGen shares our dedication to supporting the long-term sustainability of U.S. agriculture by decarbonizing the supply chain. NuGen’s commitment to quality, yields, and efficiency aligns perfectly with our vision.”

“We are delighted to partner with Summit on this important carbon capture storage project,” said Zafar Rizvi, CEO of Rex American Resources. “Strategically, the location of our NuGen facility in Marion, South Dakota and our goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions perfectly align with Summit Carbon Solutions. We look forward to working with Summit to achieve our sustainability targets and making a positive impact on the environment.”

The partnership with NuGen will remove and permanently store an additional 450,000 metric tons of CO2 per year. This CO2 will be compressed and transported to North Dakota for permanent geologic storage, furthering the project’s environmental benefits.

The partnership with NuGen comes amidst another notable milestone for Summit Carbon Solutions; the successful acquisition of 70 percent of the pipeline route through voluntary easements with nearly 2,500 landowners. This achievement underlines the strong community support and shared vision for sustainable agriculture and energy production.

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We buy the food – we eat the food – we enjoy the food HOWEVER, do we ever question if our food is secure. Is the land that grows the food secure? Are the farmers who farm the land secure? @YatesComms and Senator @ErinTobin21 have an Op-Ed that addresses the concerns.… pic.twitter.com/SxlS4YDTYk

— Linda McMahon (@Linda_McMahon) May 24, 2023

State Senator Erin Tobin just received a nice shout out on twitter from former Administrator of the Small Business Administration, Linda McMahon for an editorial that was published earlier this year.

And for fanboy me, it was extra cool, because Linda was also Co-Founder of Titan Sports, which later became World Wrestling Entertainment, where she was active with the company from 1980 to 2009. (From my youth into my middle years).

SDREA General Manager Barnett to give update in Gettysburg on service territory 

PIERRE – South Dakota Rural Electric Association (SDREA) General Manager Steve Barnett will be in Gettysburg tomorrow, Thursday, May 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST at the 212 Mini Mall Coffee Bean Cafe to speak to the Gettysburg Rotary Club.

Barnett plans to give an update on the recent events SDREA has attended and will provide an overview of the service territory of the local electric cooperatives. SDREA’s member cooperatives currently serve more than 300,000 members.

Prior to being the general manager at SDREA, Barnett served as South Dakota Secretary of State for four years and he served as State Auditor for eight years.

Barnett is an Aberdeen native and currently resides in Pierre with his wife and four children.

I hadn’t picked this up until I was reading further on the topic today, but did you realize the proposed constitutional measure which proposes to inflict a “jungle primary” on South Dakota does not require candidates to accurately reflect their voter registration on the actual ballot?

I not only had to do a double-take, but I had to read it three times to make sure I wasn’t failing to pick it up.  According to the Attorney General’s final statement on the proposed constitutional amendment..

According to the Attorney General’s explanation “A candidate may list any party next to their name on the ballot regardless of party affiliation or registration.”  And if you go into the actual language of the measure itself, it contains this passage..

Literally, as hinted at by the AG’s statement, the very language of the measure is little more than a thinly veiled attack on all political parties in the state, because it takes away any meaning of the concept of a political party organization.

Libertarians? Forget third party status, because they’ll be gone. Democrats? They’re going to mean less than they do now. It will be great for Republicans, because in red-state South Dakota, literally everyone will run as a Republican. The big question will be how will people affiliate once they are elected, because if this passes, the designation on the ballot may have no relation to the political affiliation they claimed to run under.

I’m not sure why they feel they have to eliminate registering with a party to run as a party’s candidate. It’s not a high bar to affiliate with a political party currently. Just a trip to the courthouse.

I’m probably dating myself, as well as the age of many of my kids when I point out this reference, but I’m reminded of the evil plan of the villain in the Disney movie “The Incredibles.”  The original one, not the sequel. The villain’s evil plot to be foiled by the heroes was, in a nutshell, was to make superheroes widespread by selling his technology to render “real” superheroes common.

As the villain monologued in the movie “Everyone” can be super! And when everyone’s super… no one will be..”

That’s shockingly parallel to the exact thing this ballot measure proposes to do in red-state South Dakota. To make all candidates Republican.

Because when everyone is a Republican… then no one will be. 

Johnson Supply Chain Bills Pass Out of Transportation Committee

 Washington, D.C. – Today, in the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, two bills led by U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) passed out of the committee.

The Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act would strengthen provisions from Johnson’s Ocean Shipping Reform Act that became law in June 2022. The Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act prohibits U.S. ports from using Chinese state-sponsored LOGINK software, allows the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to investigate foreign shipping exchanges like the Shanghai Shipping Exchange to preempt improper business practices, and authorizes the FMC to streamline data standards for maritime freight logistics.

The 91,000-lb. Weight Exemption Pilot Program, a provision in Johnson’s SHIP It Act, would establish a voluntary ten-year pilot program for states to increase truck weights on federal interstates up to 91,000 lbs. on six axles.

“My bills strengthen our supply chain, allowing products to reach consumers faster and fighting against China’s unfair trade practices,” said Johnson. “America’s supply chain has room for improvement, and it’s long past time Congress closes these gaps.”

Johnson and Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) introduced the Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act in March 2023 to strengthen the FMC’s authority to crack down on unfair shipping practices. The 91,000-lb. Weight Exemption Pilot Program is a provision in the SHIP IT Act, introduced by Johnson and Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) in January 2023 to increase safety and shipping capacity for truckers, ease burdensome regulations, and improve driver recruitment and retention.

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From a release:

Study: Carbon pipelines would boost corn demand, add nearly $6 billion to South Dakota economy

Estimates show 19 cent increase to local corn basis

ONIDA, S.D. (May 22, 2023) – Proposed carbon pipelines would raise the premium on corn for South Dakota farmers and inject nearly $6 billion in gross output for the state over a 10-year period, according to a study released today.

The report, commissioned by the South Dakota Ethanol Producers Association, seeks to quantify the economic impact of the proposed Summit and Navigator pipeline projects, which together would cross 25 counties in eastern South Dakota and connect to 13 of the state’s 16 bioethanol plants.

Findings in the study demonstrate that a 15 percent increase in biofuel production drives economic growth.

• An average increase to the corn basis of 19 cents per bushel in South Dakota
• Increased bioethanol production of 217 million gallons annually
• Increase of 77 million bushels of corn demand
• Increase in gross output of $5.92 billion for the state of South Dakota over a 10-year period
• A total of 7,105 jobs from 2024-2034

“When you increase production at a bioethanol plant, it increases corn demand in the area around that plant,” said Walt Wendland, President of the South Dakota Ethanol Producers Association and President/CEO of Ringneck Energy in Onida, S.D. “When you apply that proven effect to these projects in South Dakota, the results for farmers are dramatic.”

The research, conducted by Dakota Institute in Sioux Falls, estimates the economic impact over the 10-year period from 2024-34 under different scenarios for increased bioethanol production. It looks at areas including employment, personal income, gross economic output and state GDP.

“The economic impact of these projects is significant for the entire state during both construction and operation. Our findings show increased economic activity in construction, retail trade, manufacturing and other industries,” said Jared McEntaffer, CEO of Dakota Institute. “On an individual level, the most profound impacts will be felt in areas near bioethanol plants.”

The Navigator and Summit pipeline projects would collect CO² captured at bioethanol plants and transport it for long-term underground storage. This process, called carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), lowers the carbon intensity of bioethanol produced at those facilities.

CCUS allows bioethanol to better participate in low-carbon fuel markets and take advantage of national incentives. The research looked at three scenarios – 10, 15 and 20 percent – for increased bioethanol production in South Dakota. The mid-range 15 percent scenario was deemed the most likely scenario by bioethanol producers.

“Agriculture has changed the fuel landscape in the 21st century through bioethanol, and energy remains the best opportunity for growth” Wendland said. “These projects will have an immediate impact on both bioethanol and agriculture and position our industries for an even brighter future.”

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From Politico, US Senator John Thune is reportedly endorsing US Senator Tim Scott’s Presidential Campaign:

Sen. John Thune, the Senate’s No. 2 Republican, is endorsing the presidential campaign of Sen. Tim Scott, according to a person familiar with his plans.

The South Dakota senator will appear at Scott’s presidential launch on Monday in South Carolina, the person said. Scott will announce his presidential run on Monday in North Charleston and has already launched an ad blitz.

In backing Scott, the Senate minority whip becomes the highest-ranking congressional Republican to back the South Carolina senator. And he joins his South Dakota colleague Sen. Mike Rounds in backing Scott, who is popular among Senate Republicans. Some members of House leadership have already indicated they support former President Donald Trump’s campaign

Read the entire story here.