The Midwest has had a tough year. Record flooding and intense storms have wreaked havoc across the region leaving many to face a lengthy rebuilding and cleanup process. Now, it could be gearing up for a wave of professional protests and publicity stunts in their own backyard aimed solely at politicizing our nation’s energy infrastructure.
In 2016, the infamous Dakota Access pipeline protests brought professional activists to North Dakota, leaving local taxpayers on the hook for millions of dollars. Now, professional protestors are setting their sights on Minnesota. A corroding pipeline from the 1960’s that runs through Minnesota is approved to be replaced with a new, safer pipeline to help deliver fuel to the U.S. But activist groups are threatening to stall the process by any means necessary.
If we learned anything from the Dakota Access protests, it’s that these are not local citizens peacefully demonstrating, but out of town protestors funded by billionaires to try and cause damage and disruption – all at the expense of local communities, law enforcement and taxpayers.
As we’ve seen time and time again, local environmental non-profits are often doing the bidding for larger billionaire-funded organizations with the main goal of preventing any and all pipelines. These local non-profits secure financial backing, from notable individuals such as George Soros and Tom Seyer, which opens the door for out of state protestors to join the cause.
The activist group Honor the Earth has already planned several protests and organized events to try and stall and prevent updates to Minnesota’s pipeline. Authorities in Minnesota are taking notice and preparing for a high volume of out-of-state activists to enter their state by looking to South Dakota for help and with good reason. The executive director and co-founder of Honor the Earth, was also a leader at the destructive Dakota Access protests.
The Dakota Access Pipeline protest came at a high cost to taxpayers – and not just financially. A reported 48 million pounds of trash was removed by cleanup crews that cost taxpayers over $1 million dollars alone. The clean-up crews worked for over two weeks to clear trash, debris, and shockingly, relocate a few k-9s left behind to an animal shelter.
But the clean-up costs are not the only risk from professional protestors. They create serious, sometimes even dangerous problems by breaking state law and putting themselves and others at risk. Out of state protestors from Climate Direct Action protested the Dakota Access Pipeline by tampering with two operating pipelines’ emergency valves. Luckily, these protestors didn’t cause any damage, but their actions bring attention to a much larger issue: safety.
What were to happen if their protest stunt caused an accident? And what if a similar situation were to happen in Minnesota? It appears that protestors are taking too big a risk at the expense of their own cause.
And many times, out-of-state protestors fail to represent the interests of local residents and taxpayers.
The new pipeline will bring $2.6 billion to Minnesota through private investment, creating substantial economic growth and more jobs, while simultaneously supplying safe and reliable energy source to families across the state. Additionally, a significant number of Minnesota residents support increased access to natural gas and oil resources.
Minnesota – or any state – shouldn’t be fooled into letting professional protestors speak for them, especially when they are only pushing the agenda of the billionaires behind them. Local taxpayers will end up footing the bill, cleaning up the mess, and risk safe updates to our energy infrastructure, just like in North Dakota.
