by Mari Radtke
“Freedom and private property are inseparable.” George Washington, shared by Amanda Radke
Sunday December 14 at Yesterdaze Memories in Sanborn was the time and place that a grassroots group of individuals, Gaza Patriots, hosted a conference of speakers, politicians/legislators, media, representatives of a fledgling methane producer and others who each play a roll in protecting private property rights with carbon pipelines. Among the guests were Amanda Radke, “The Heart of Rural America” podcast host, business person and rancher. Radke served as emcee of the event. She introduced herself and provided a background into her involvement. As a rancher and landowner, she has a vested interest in protecting her property rights. As a podcaster, she was one of the first to put the issue of eminent domain use for the benefit of a private for-profit company. Her involvement began with a phone call from a listener, Rita Brown, a South Dakota widow threatened to sign easements for the pipeline. That phone call, according to Radke, brought out a lot of questions and exposed the issue. She shared the horror story of Jared Bosley’s wife (at home alone) having their home invaded by a “predatory company” using armed security and entering the home and out-buildings without permission. This tale includes the boring of a 90’ hole on the property with support from the local sheriff.
These stories led to an explanation of the red carpet welcome by politicians for the large developer. And lots of phone calls. Radke went on to explain how the people of South Dakots organized, beginning with exposing the conduct. The achievements of their efforts were also provided. Several of the property owners in the path of the pipeline had taken up candidacy over the issue and found themselves elected. A few were in Sanborn last Sunday sharing their stories. They now refer to their path to today’s status – no eminent domain in South Dakota for carbon pipelines, as a sort of blueprint.
They spoke of legislation designed to hamper private property rights under the misnomer of a “Landowner Bill of Rights” being signed by former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem. The 90 days of frantic work to collect sufficient and accurate signatures (500 needed, 38,000 collected) to put the legislation on the ballot. That legislation was defeated by 60% of the state-wide vote. Twelve legislators were voted in over incumbents because of this issue in South Dakota. They say they are not yet done.
South Dakota State Senator Mark Johnson spoke and shared his experience going from a 5th generation South Dakota farmer to becoming a state wide elected official. He was frank about their successes and logic that went into final legislation around the eminent domain project. He also spoke to the continuing efforts to get eminent domain, saying, “ The battle is not over.”
Steve King, former Iowa Congressman and founder of Freesoil Foundation was on hand to outline his experiences with the many phases of the Summit Carbon Pipeline and the legal efforts past and ongoing to protect private property rights through the Freesoil Foundation. In his opening remarks, King gave his view of the beginning of carbon capture. His view is that climate change and global warming are a root driver of technologies to reduce or remove carbon from the atmosphere. Although he is a supporter of ethanol and its growth, he is not a supporter of the use of eminent domain for a private company to develop a pipeline to transport and bury what was later described as “very valuable” carbon dioxide in North Dakota. He talked about the various times he was not allowed to speak at Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) meetings. And his establishing Freedomsoil Foundation.
A speaker at the Sunday meeting included Steve Kenkel, a former Shelby County Supervisor. He was part of the first board of supervisors trying to exert local control laws over the pipeline. He is personally being sued by Summit. Kenkel is also a 5th generation farmer, but in Iowa. He said that he felt it was his duty as a county supervisor to protect the health and welfare of Shelby County. Local control laws were defeated in February 2025 in court 2-1. The case is on its way to the Supreme Court. One of his primary concerns of the pipeline route in Shelby County is the 2-mile setback [all] the city has and the pipeline comes within 131 feet of the city limits. The setbacks are areas that cities can control development to stay within planning. The case has brought together several counties, ISAC ad Farm Bureau, as well as 6 Attorney’s General and 4 prestigious law professors from around the country.
More stories of landowers becoming candidates were shared.
CapCO2 Solutions Inc. sent representatives Ron Honken, Renewable Energy Liaison and Jeff Bonar, PhD and CEO. Bonar spoke about the vision of CapCO2. He sees the future of CO2 collection and distillation into methane then methanol on-site and a more efficient method to minimize CO2 getting into the atomosphere, less costly and with a ready market for the final product. The company will have its first production site up and running in early 2027 in LuVerne, Minnesota. More information can be found at www.capco2.solutions.
The Board of Directors of Freesoil believes that the Iowa Utilities Commission violated Iowa law and Constitution when allowing eminent domain for a carbon pipeline. They are suing. King believes this case has the potential to overturn Kelo, a ground breaking case from the 1980s in which a city was allowed to use eminent domain to take property for private commercial development. The case of Charels City’s long planned industrial park being right over the pipeline route is believed to be the strongest case. It was said Sunday, “Once you lose property rights, everything becomes property. King reported that 98% of all funds raised by Freedomsoil pays attorneys fighting to maintain individual and private property rights. No salaries are paid.
Wrapping up the evening’s speakers were 25% of the members of the “Defiant Dozen” Iowa Senators who refused to vote on a budget bill until a bill limiting the use of eminent domain was voted on. The three senators at Sanborn were Lynn Evans, District 3, Jeff Taylor, District 2 and Kevin Alons, District 7. All are Republicans. Eventually a vote was held and passed. Governor Kim Reynolds vetoed the measure.
According to Steve King, the triad behind the pipeline effort are Reynolds, project developer Bruce Rastetter and former Governor and China Diplomat Terry Branstad. Amanda Radke repeatedly stated that the project is “foreign funded.”