Pictured above: Kyle Quackenbush (left) and Jane Kleeb (right) speaking at CO2NNECT 2024.
At this year’s CO2NNECT 2024 Conference, hosted by the Great Plains Institute’s Carbon Action Alliance, attendees witnessed an extraordinary conversation between Jane Kleeb and Kyle Quackenbush. Jane is the executive director of Bold Alliance Nebraska, an advocacy group that brings together landowners, communities, and Tribal Nations to protect land and water. Kyle is the segment president of liquids at Tallgrass Energy. Together, they forged an unlikely alliance to permit a carbon dioxide (CO2) pipeline through Nebraska in a way that benefited the company, landowners, and the environment. Here are some of their key insights from their successful collaboration.
How did you both meet and what convinced you to sit down to discuss a pipeline project?
Jane: A mutual friend and former Mayor of Lincoln asked me if I would visit with Tallgrass to see if there was any common ground, knowing legal options were limited on this pipeline project given the vast majority of it was a project already built. It is not often a pipeline company is willing to hear concerns from landowners and the community, so Bold [Alliance Nebraska] took the opportunity to see if Tallgrass would be upfront about plans and concerns.
What feedback have you received on the community benefits agreement (CBA) from your relevant stakeholder groups?
Kyle: I think the industry was surprised not only at what was included in the agreementbut also at the range of organizations who signed or endorsed the document. While I think the press seems to focus on the dollar amounts of the agreement, or the 10 years of bonus payments to landowners and the community foundation, on the ground in the project area, the elements of the agreement that we’ve heard the most feedback on are the provisions that outline how our company will behave during the phases of the project.
Jane: By sharing how the easement negotiation process will unfold, where the values offered were derived from, or even how community members can provide feedback directly to the company, we’ve empowered people in a way that landowners want but rarely receive.
Now what? How can you ensure project partners are accountable and the CBA is ultimately successful?
Jane and Kyle: Accountability is actually pretty easy as it relates to this agreement because we negotiated very clear timelines and deliverables. That said, we both have also nominated internal teammates to manage the compliance of the CBA, and our two groups meet on a recurring basis to discuss progress and address any issues that might arise.
How did Tallgrass navigate the expectations for Community Benefits Plans (CBPs) set by the US Department of Energy (DOE)? Any lessons to share?
Jane and Kyle: Candidly, we didn’t approach this process with DOE’s expectations in mind, and that’s probably exactly what DOE wants. We created a community agreement authentically generated to address specific concerns of the specific communities and stakeholders associated with a specific project. We had the expectations of our communities, neighbors, and stakeholders at the forefront of this process.
What lessons would you share with other industry leaders about the process of developing a good community partnership?
Jane and Kyle: A good agreement like this isn’t simply negotiated with counterparties who are supportive of your efforts but requires you to engage with groups who are skeptical of the project or your company. I would encourage industry to see a CBA as a vehicle to change your project for the benefit of the community. This document is only worthwhile if you are willing to change and adapt your efforts.
What are some lessons you both can share about negotiating in a way that ensures everyone wins?
Jane and Kyle: Work to understand the reason behind the ask—to actually understand the others’ perspective so if you can’t say “yes” to an issue you can work to resolve the underlying concern or request in a way that works. Approach the negotiation like you’re engaging with your neighbor, because you are. Try to understand what folks are expecting from their corporate neighbors and how those expectations impact their ideas of how those neighbors should impact the community.
To read more insights from the CO2NNECT 2024 conference, visit the Carbon Action Alliance blog or sign up for our newsletter.