By Lee Blank, Summit Carbon Solutions
In January, President Trump made it official: America is in a national energy emergency. Not because of a lack of natural resources—but because of a failure to use them. For years, domestic energy development was choked by red tape, slowed by shortsighted policy, and stalled by legal uncertainty. But that era is over.
With the stroke of a pen, the President reaffirmed what many of us in agriculture and energy have always known: Energy independence isn’t just a slogan. It’s the cornerstone of national security, global strength, and economic resilience. And agriculture isn’t just part of the conversation—it’s leading the charge.
From the fuel that keeps America’s supply chains moving to the innovation behind carbon capture and ethanol-based synthetic aviation fuel (SAF), American farmers and ethanol producers are laying the groundwork for a new era of energy dominance.
President Trump’s Earth Day statement called out carbon capture technology as one of the next-generation solutions that will “ensure America leads in both energy production and innovation.” The message is clear: capturing carbon is not a distraction from growth, it’s the pathway to it. It’s how we make homegrown fuels like ethanol not just competitive, but dominant in new markets.
The national energy emergency declaration sends a powerful message: America is getting back to work. It marks a turning point in how this country prioritizes domestic energy infrastructure—and reaffirms that energy production, transportation, and refining are essential to national and economic security. From pipelines to processing, this moment is about advancing real solutions that restore energy independence, strengthen rural economies, and keep America competitive on the world stage.
This is a once-in-a-generation moment for ethanol. Thanks to permanent carbon capture infrastructure, we’re not just producing fuel—we’re unlocking new value. Lower-carbon ethanol isn’t a regulatory checkbox. It’s the requirement for competing in billion-gallon markets like SAF, where producers are hungry for a reliable, domestic supply.
That’s where Summit Carbon Solutions comes in. We’re building the infrastructure backbone to connect the Midwest’s ethanol producers to the future of global energy. Our carbon capture and storage network will make it possible for ethanol to meet the carbon intensity scores required to access premium markets—keeping plants online, communities strong, and corn prices supported.
We know what’s at stake. When corn prices fall below the cost of production, every market matters. When foreign actors weaponize global commodity prices, every domestic advantage counts. And when national security is on the line, the ability to power our nation from our own soil becomes more than a goal—it becomes a necessity.
This is the time for action. The President has cleared the runway. Now it’s up to us—farmers, ethanol producers, pipeline developers, and investors—to seize the moment. Because American energy dominance isn’t just about oil rigs and gas terminals. It’s about rows of corn in the Midwest, innovation in carbon management, and the infrastructure to bring it all together.
At Summit Carbon Solutions, we’re proud to stand with American agriculture. We’re proud to be building the infrastructure that keeps our nation strong. And we’re proud to be part of an industry that goes to work.