CO2 PIPELINE CONTROVERSY AND PROPERTY TAX BATTLES IN NORTH DAKOTA

On this episode of Open Range, host Gary Emineth welcomes Dustin Gawrylow, Managing Director of the North Dakota Watchdog Network, for a deep dive into the latest controversies surrounding CO2 pipelines and property taxes. Gawrylow explains how South Dakota lawmakers are taking a hard stand against CO2 pipelines, and what that means for North Dakota landowners. He reveals troubling reports that some insurance companies are refusing to insure properties with CO2 pipelines running through them — raising serious questions about liability and safety. The conversation exposes how the CO2 industry is being fueled more by federal tax credits than genuine innovation or environmental benefit, with Gawrylow breaking down the intricate tax credit system driving carbon sequestration projects.
The discussion then shifts to the topic of Extra Territorial Zones (ETZs) — the legal gray areas where cities extend their planning and zoning authority beyond their borders. Using Burleigh County and Bismarck as examples, Emineth and Gawrylow analyze how city growth is managed, where it overreaches, and what lessons can be learned from other major North Dakota cities. The episode wraps up with a frank look at property taxes and how local governments are responding to the new changes in state law — revealing the behind-the-scenes politics shaping North Dakota’s fiscal future.