I am Lee Blank, CEO of Summit Carbon Solutions, and I am writing to provide insights about a project we believe holds significant potential for enhancing environmental stewardship and contributing to the socioeconomic wellbeing of our local communities, including those which are Native American.
Summit Carbon Solutions is leading an innovative venture aimed at capturing, transporting, and permanently storing carbon dioxide (CO2) produced during the ethanol production process. This endeavor aligns with our commitment to reduce our environmental impact, a commitment we share with Native American cultures and their tradition of respecting and preserving Mother Earth.
Our carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies aim to prevent the release of more than 18 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere annually, which is akin to taking more than 4 million cars off our roads each year. We recognize that Native communities, due to their close relationship with and dependence on natural resources, can be significantly affected by environmental disruptions. Our efforts, therefore, are focused on preserving our shared environment and protecting the future of these communities.
This project, while ambitious, does require significant infrastructure. Thus, we pledge to work closely with all communities that may be impacted by our operations. We see this as a collaborative venture, with community engagement and partnership at its core.
Our project also presents substantial local economic benefits, including job creation and support for local economies. We are committed to providing employment opportunities to diverse individuals, including members of the Native American communities. Furthermore, our project aids in fostering a more sustainable ethanol production process, which can have lasting positive effects on the local biofuel industry and the economy.
We are aware that our work may present unique challenges, particularly concerning the preservation of sacred and historically significant lands. We promise to maintain open dialogue, respectful negotiations, and appropriate compensation where required. Our commitment extends to the protection of cultural heritage.
We understand the importance of safeguarding culturally and historically significant lands and sites. To date, with input and participation from Tribal Historic Preservation Officers and their staff, the Project is performing 100% cultural surveys of all Project routes and has avoided all (more than 1,100) Tribally-identified heritage resources. Our team remains dedicated to maintaining open dialogue, addressing concerns respectfully, and ensuring protective measures are in place to honor cultural heritage. More information can be found https://summitcarbonsolutions.com/tribal-outreach/ and we invite you to join the conversation by emailing us at [email protected].
Let us join hands in our shared goal: striking a balance between sustainable development and the preservation of our cultural and natural heritage.
Sincerely,
Lee Blank
CEO, Summit Carbon Solutions
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
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Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher