Due to a snow, wind and other wintry conditions, there were a number of technical difficulties and on-site audibles called. Here is a multi-media complied transcript of the press conference.
Good afternoon everyone my name is Jason Spiess, I am the host of The Crude Life and welcome you to The Industrial Forest press conference and would like to thank all one, two, three of you who came out during this wintry fall day on October 22. I will do my best with time and technology since the horizontal snow hitting is us in the face and hitting our electronic equipment.
I do thank you because we’ve had to postpone two other press conferences due to COVID and snow, so I truly mean it from my heart when I thank you for coming out today to be a part of what I believe is an historic announcement that will bring industry and environment together in a new, progressive way. I am here today to make a couple of exciting announcements so let’s kick things off.
The Industrial Forest would like to announce that it will be building a network of forests across the United States by planting 1000 trees in 50 states over the next 5 years. That’s a minimum of 50,000 trees and 10 million pounds of carbon consumed by Mother Earth.
In just a moment I am going to explain to you why It Takes An Industry To Build A Forest, but first a quick overview about the forest and micro-forest.
The construction of The Industrial Forests will start in 2021 with 5 states in our first year. In addition to 5-acre Industrial Forests, the Mayor of Bismarck, ND, has agreed to do what he can to build a micro-Industrial Forest within the city limits.
At this time I would like to turn over the press conference to the Mayor of Bismarck, North Dakota, Steve Bakken to talk about his interest in The Industrial Forest.
MAYOR STEVE BAKKEN via Video: Thank you Jason and thank you to everyone who is at the press conference and to everyone watching and listening to the press conference. Today is an historic day and I am happy to be a part of it. Right now The Industrial Forest is just an idea and concept with blue prints. But with the help of industry, the community and environmental innovations, I see The Industrial Forests being constructed all over the United States. As the Mayor of Bismarck, I personally will do what it takes to make sure Bismarck, North Dakota plants the first tree.
Furthermore, I am happy to finally see Jason move ahead with The Industrial Forest. I’ve known Jason for nearly 15 years and can not think of too many others who are more qualified to bring industry and Mother Earth together.
Jason and I have worked together in media for 15 years, shared interest in training dogs and even worked together in the media war room while fighting a flood I’ve seen his best and worst, and what I can tell you about Jason Spiess is that he has the mind of a capitalist and the heart of a hippie.
As Mayor of Bismarck, I am excited to be a part of The Industrial Forest and its potential to use shared knowledge to advance innovation and environmental stewardship. Currently, we are in the exploratory phase of site location and logistics. We will be announcing details to the public as they are approved and available.
In conclusion, I would like to invite companies to Join The Industrial EcoLution and sponsor a tree in The Industrial Forest. Furthermore, I would like to invite anyone who wants to learn how industry is working together with the environment to come to The Industrial Forest’s Planting Party next September.
Thank you Bismarck Mayor Steve Bakken, and if I may say, your vision for community and openness for carbon-based finance solutions, is what the state of North Dakota needs and hopefully you will consider running for governor one day.
Like Bismarck Mayor Steve Bakken, we are asking each and everyone of you to come Join The Industrial EcoLution. This movement provides an opportunity for leaders in energy to show leadership with Environmental Action and Industrial Integrity.
According to a number of studies, about half the trees planted over the past 20-30 years die within the first year. That’s from non profit tree planting parties to city tree planting programs. It’s a problem and a real-life Eco-Issue.
Lack of watering, transplant shock and poor growing conditions are a few reasons why trees die. The Industrial Forest uses a Sustainability Shed and a Critical Pipeline System in order to ensure the forest’s survival. Trees need more than just an Instagram Pic or a corporate-sponsored field trip. They need water everyday for one year and at least once a week for years after.
The Industrial Forest does more than build sustainable forests, it also creates jobs. Sustainability Sheds and Critical Pipeline Systems will need to be constructed and engineered. Local businesses like real estate companies, artists, wood fabricators and nurseries will be given opportunity for business during a time when doors are closing.
This is one of the special attributes of The Industrial Forest. It creates an eco-system that allows trees to live and industry jobs to grow.
The Industrial Forest will hold public meetings in each of the states leading up to the Planting Party. These public meetings are designed to provide engagement, communication, awareness, inclusion and transparency.
We will meet with local officials, civic leaders and industrial experts to ensure the trees survive, produce an ecosystem and absorb carbon for decades. As I mentioned a moment ago, The Industrial Forest will stimulate community economies by purchasing young trees from local nurseries, stability stakes from fabricators and flora direction county extension agents.
In addition to North Dakota, the other states we will be building Industrial Forests in 2021 are Minnesota, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas. We felt keeping the construction to five states in the first year was aggressive, yet achievable. In 2022, we have 15 states scheduled.
At this time, I would like to introduce you to Michaela Hager. Micheala works for K9 Pipe Inspections in the oil and gas industry. She trains and uses dogs to sniff pipelines, which are still more accurate than robots by the way. She is located in Wyoming but does work internationally, in fact she is in Mexico right now working a job. Micheala is currently heading our exploratory committee in the Rocky Mountain Region, where we are currently in the process of identifying our Colorado State Sustainability Supervisor.
MICHAELA HAGER Via Video: Hello everyone and thank you for joining us today. I can’t speak for the entire Rocky Mountain Region, but everyone I have spoken to from the Permian Basin to the Eagleford to the DJ Basin, everyone really loves The Industrial Forest concept. When I heard about the idea of Industry building Forests, I knew I wanted to be a part of this project. I train dogs to detect leaks in pipelines for a living. I know industry and the environment can work together and offer each other value.
I love the oil and gas industry because of their family values and desire for community fellowship. If The Industrial Forest will help educate on how much oil and gas supports environmental causes, how much industry gives back to their communities, that may be just as important as planting trees. Maybe more important.
I for one am very excited for Colorado to be one of the first states to build an Industrial Forest in the Rocky Mountain Region and look forward to helping educate the world on how industry and the environment can work together.
Thank you Michaela Hager of K9 Pipe Inspections. Not only has she joined The Industrial EcoLution, but she is a canine job creator too.
Next I would like to patch in Tiffany Wilson out of the Permian Basin in Texas. Tiffany works with Aries Buildings and is very active in the oil and gas communities. She is leading our Texas exploratory committee to help locate a Texas State Sustainability Supervisor.
Tiffany Wilson: Hello from Texas! Thank you everyone for joining The Industrial Forest’s press conference. I am excited to help with this project as I can see industry building forests all across America. The oil and gas industry are some of the smartest, kindest people I have ever worked with. Their commitment to community and environment makes The Industrial Forest a perfect demonstration of Environmental Action.
I can not speak for everyone in Texas or the Permian Basin, but everyone I have shown The Industrial Forest too, not only get it, but they absolutely love it. Thanks everyone and can’t wait to meet all of you at the Planting Party!
Thank you Tiffany. Look forward to all those pecan trees and future Industrial Forest pecan pies coming out of Texas. You truly are doing great work down there Tiffany.
America was built on the strength of cooperation and innovation. The Industrial Forest carries the same spirit as mega-projects like the Trans-Continental Railroad and the Hoover Dam.
No single person is big enough to be able to take on this environmental energy project. Much like the Hoover Dam, many contractors, volunteers and community leaders will be needed to create a progressive movement. The network and logistics of The Industrial Forest will Reimagine Industry and Reinvent Energy.
I would like to introduce Kendall Dehaan from Thief River Falls, Minnesota. I met Kendellina years and years ago when she was in high school spending her free time being an activist saving the beaver and their habitat. Kendall was one of the first people I reached out to about the Industrial Forest and asked for help. I am pleased she agreed to help industry build sustainable forests using industrial innovation.
KENDALL DEHAAN: Hello Everyone. Thank you for being a part of The Industrial Forest press conference. I am so excited Jason asked for my help and opinion. I met Jason back at VegFest back when I was in high school advocating for the beaver and its habitat. I remember thinking how odd it was that an oil and gas guy was at the event. But after talking with Jason it was easy to see how much he cares about the environment and personal freedoms.
So when Jason asked me if I would help industry build forests, I was very intrigued. Then when I saw the sustainability part of The Industrial Forest, I was like all in. Did you know most companies don’t even have a sustainability plan? How is that even a thing?
My family is from Texas, so I have grown up hearing about the oil and gas industry. Jason has told me on multiple occasions over the years that industry is the leader in the environmental movement. I always rolled my eyes when he said that.
But now, if industry is going to build sustainable forests, I am ready to listen and plant some trees. Now Jason has assured me that industry will listen to me too.
I look forward to talking to oil and gas companies and industry as a whole on why sustainability and the environment is important to my generation. But as equally important, I look forward to oil and gas companies showing me how they are leaders in saving the planet.
The Industrial Forest does more than bring industry to life. Outdoor community planting parties foster teamwork, nurture the imagination, increase the community’s sense of ownership over their engagement. All while learning a conservation work ethic, logistics of industrial living and what it means to have Energy Integrity.
In conclusion, I would like to thank everyone for coming out. Thank you to Bismarck Mayor Steve Bakken and Michaela Hager of K9 Pipe Inspections. Thank you to everyone watching this press release on the Internet. And thank you to everyone who has already joined the Industrial EcoLution. My name is Jason Spiess and I am officially announcing the beginning of The Industrial Forest and its carbon based solution for the marketplace.
It Takes An Industry To Build A Forest.
At this time I will be taking questions. Are there any questions?
Attendee 1: Are you a non profit?
No. We originally set out to be a non profit, but quickly became a member of the private sector. No matter how we sliced and diced it, there was no way we could keep our sponsorship rates as low as they are as a non profit. Private industry can cut through much of the special interests and bureaucratic red tape to save time and money. That’s part of the story of The Industrial Forest and the entire Industrial EcoLution. There are ways to bring back ethical capitalism that rewards the fruits of labor with economic opportunities rather than enabling entitlement.
Attendee 2: Will the businesses or sponsors get Carbon Credits?
Yes, when they are approved by the proper governmental agencies. Part of a company’s sponsorship of a tree in The Industrial Forest is the potential for Carbon Credit rights. Carbon Credit Verification requires a unique set of procedures, costs, or resources that are not always available when prioritizing reforestation for environmental restoration purposes. Such certifications will be made on a case-by-case basis by our sponsors and partners. If The Industrial Forest is ever certified as an official Carbon Credit source, the sponsors will receive the carbon credits.
Attendee 3: Was Bismarck chosen because of its history with oil and gas and environmental protests? The DAPL Protest and Greta Thunberg Mural?
Actually this is the first time either of those two topics have come up. The talks between myself and any government official have all been positive and focused on implementing a carbon based solution and opportunity for industry to demonstrate their leadership. We’ve talked with Mayor Steve Bakken about different ways the city can be involved and how they can not be involved. We’re meeting with some forestry professionals next week. Bismarck was chosen because Mayor Steve Bakken wanted to be part of a solution. He sees these forests being constructed all over the United States. It’s all been planning for the future discussion, not analyzing or dissecting the past. But if it helps, I’ll offer an olive branch of inclusion and hope and personally invite Greta Thunberg to our Tree Planting Party next September. She can even plant the second tree.
Attendee 2: Who will plant the first tree?
I don’t know. But not her. She would be invited to learn, not lead.
Attendee 3: Do you think this will help the industry’s image? An industry as a whole hasn’t been under public fire like this since tobacco.
I do think it will help the industrial image, additionally I think it will help a number of economies. There is a major shift happening. Every sector of oil and gas is going through a paradigm shift. From HR to Drilling Science to Fluid Flows, changes are happening and they are happening in environmental action and industrial integrity too. And yes, I know what you are talking about when you say Big Oil is Big Tobacco. But that’s a very short sighted way to look at it. I would even say naive, but I don’t want to insult you for asking a legitimate question, because it is a legitimate question. Colorado, New York and California are my off the top of my head examples to legitimize your question, but back to my point which is that it is a short-sighted naive comparison that some are making. You don’t drive your car with Marlboros and Joe Camel doesn’t heat your home. In my opinion, this is another version of the NIMBY argument. Further to that thread and narrative is this idea that the planet is going to end in 10 years. I happen to find it bizarre that leaders are enabling this doomsday prediction.
I will go on record with this if you care about my personal thoughts on whether we have ten years left on this planet. Not only do I not believe the planet is going to die in a decade, I believe any media outlet who allows this conversation to be had is part of the problem. I was taught and educated right here in North Dakota. North Dakota State University. They not only taught me professional ethics, but actually gave an example of what not to do. Would you like to know what that example is? It was not to yell fire in a crowded theatre.
Why would respected news outlets allow anyone of influence to yell the earth is on fire? It is very odd to me and I believe it is not in the people’s best interests.
Attendee 3: So you don’t believe in Climate Change?
I never said that. According to the verified data I have seen and read, I do not believe the planet or people will perish in 10 years. That’s what I said. I will even go a step further and say we are talking about trillions of dollars committed to this movement and sweeping lifestyle changes that end with drastic changes to our freedoms and money. I am just not ready to completely buy into it with my mind body soul. We are talking about the future. The future. No one can predict the future, yet I am supposed to just blindly hand over my checkbook and freedoms? No thank you and I will not apologize for having that belief either. Nor will I be publicly shamed into it. I will not be shamed into believing nor will I apologize that I do not accept that the world is going to end in 10 years.
With that said, I will now add a guarantee to The Industrial Forest. If the world ends in 10 years, The Industrial Forest will refund all the sponsorships.
But in regards to the topic of climate change, that’s a different topic for a different day. Let’s just say I believe the planet is very resilient and complex. Humans are contributing to some ecological issues, however, I am not sure we are having the right conversations or discussions. We may come to realize very soon that industry isn’t the cause of our increase in carbon, rather, our decision for land use. There is a lot of verified data and science that connects sun activity to our planet’s temperature. So there is no way I am going to get baited into a potential sound byte trap when a response with complex context is needed.
I would, however, to lighten the mood, invite you to read the book about Yellowstone by Alston Chase, I believe its called Playing God With Yellowstone. It is an awesome documentation of our mismanagement of Yellowstone Park. We can not control nature, from killing elk and wolves to driving away the beavers to our present day human issues like raw sewage spewing out of the ground. Some would say our experts haven’t even learned how to manage the environment yet.
In my opinion, the last true stewards of the land were the Native Americans, and they were not working with the balance of nature, no. They were quite aggressive with their management. Controlled burns to grow green grasses so herds of elk, bison and deer would graze. If left alone, they knew dead trees and decay prevented new growth. The Native Americans understood that nature had its own set of laws.
I do think people need to be reminded that nature doesn’t care about our laws, policies or legislation. If I ask 1000 scientists how fast a penny falls from Seattle’s Space Needle, they will all give me a precise answer that will no doubt be the same or within miniscule of a percentage difference. If I ask 1000 scientists what the temperature is going to be in 20 years, you get a wide variety of answers. That tells me there is still a lot of work to be done on the science of the climate. It is a complex system and can not be centrally planned or controlled by lawyers. We can’t even manage the complex system known as human beings.
I have a teenage son. The most complex of all human beings. They don’t listen, they do what they want. Just when I think I have him figured out, I don’t. His behavior can not be predicted, therefore my best attempt at parenting is to manage my complex system known as a teenager. There is no way I am going to just trust that he’ll be raised simply by telling him to be a Democrat or a Republican. Nor do I want that. But that’s the trend and logic in today’s leadership.
And on top of that complex system another complex system exists known as my son’s mother.
To manage a complex system like the environment or a child you also have to admit when you are wrong and be open to change. I haven’t met too many policy makers that are willing to admit mistakes or change their ways. That’s why Bismarck Mayor Steve Bakken is so special and unique in today’s world.
I’d like to end this question with this. Science should not be political. The environment should not be political. Energy should not be political. These are areas of life where facts make it very black and white. But the black and white is also dynamic. Science changes all the time. When Albert Einstein came up with the Theory of Relativity, it wasn’t accepted as real science for years by the establishment. Ulcers were thought to be stress related for decades until everyone started publicly making fun of the scientist who said it was actually gut bacteria. Now Probiotics are in everything from pancakes to flavored water to your socks.
And let’s not forget about Pangea. That poor scientist died before consensus science accepted his theory on plate tectonics. The man died being told by the establishment his theory on plate tectonics was wrong. Science should not be decided by lawyers, politicians and special interest groups. Next question.
Attendee 2: Do you really think Industry will participate in this if there isn’t a tax write off or a non profit attached to it?
Yes I do. But maybe you are right and industry can not build a forest. I think they can and will. But maybe you are right and the story is that industry can’t build a forest.
But the actual reality is that over 50% of the trees planted die within the first year and industry has come up with another solution. A carbon-based solution to the marketplace. An industrial image builder with environmental action. To me that’s the story. But you might be right and the fact that we are not a non profit or a government entity may prevent corporations from building forests across America.
The Industrial Forest is asking companies to sponsor a tree and build a sustainable forest rather than purchase thousands of throw away SWAG items. We are asking companies to sacrifice a one time trade show lunch sponsorship. One hole at a golf outing. We are asking companies to reimagine their investment when spending $25K to have their logo on thousands of plastic disposable water bottles over a three day conference. We believe there are companies and corporations willing to repurpose their intentions as well as their investments for 20-plus years of environmental action.
Attendee 1: You mentioned the term SWAG, There’s a flip side to that SWAG term you know. Are you familiar with the word SWATA?
Yes I am. Wow, you guys are tough. I’d like to get back to tree talk if I can, but I will answer your question. The word SWAG is an acronym for Stuff We All Get. The term was born at trade shows and became immortalized in pop culture with The Office’s Michael Scott. Before SWAG took off as the acceptable moniker, the phrase Trade Show Landfill was what I often heard as the phrase. SWATA, however, is very much like SWAG, in that it is catchy and easy to use. Stuff We All Throw Away. Yes I am familiar with that word and am very aware of how that acronym can be used in pop culture and in environmentally-themed, anti- industry marketing campaigns.
Virtually everyone walking around has a handheld computer that makes phone calls and takes pictures. This is why I believe industry is reimagining their intentions as much as their image. Corporations are rewriting and revisiting their ESG reports for 2021.
The Industrial Forest is a one time sponsorship that plants a seed of over a decade of ESG marketing potential. We call it Rooted Marketing. It’s public relations that grows roots. We live in a world where your company’s intentions are held accountable by your employees actions. Take my earlier off the cuff example of spending $25K just to have your logo on disposable water bottles for three days at a trade show. Could you imagine what would happen if someone took a picture of an oil and gas company’s logo on a disposable bottle of water? Now imagine if that plastic water bottle didn’t make it in the recycle bin. Or even the trash bin and it ended up as litter. I know many environmental activists who would love to put a picture like that on Google Images for the world to use.
Executives and shareholders do not want to be the next common licensed image for every blogger, podcaster and activist to use when they want, however they want. Trust me when I say, executives all over industry are rewriting the ESG reports before their annual shareholder meetings.
These are the real conversations happening right now in boardrooms.
And if you walk down anystreet USA, you can barely tie your shoe without someone accusing you of having a special interest or hidden agenda. You tied your shoe with the swoop loop method instead of using bunny ears, you must support petroleum. Everything seems to trigger people in today’s society.
I know many people out there are looking at me and thinking I am just a lobbyist for the oil and gas industry. That’s not even close to the truth. I am doing this because I believe industry does care about the environment and has the resources to be a leader.
Look, the oil companies have millions and millions of dollars to spend on lobbyists, advocacy councils and public relation firms. Their body of work is done. The oil and gas industry has spent more money on public relations and lobbying that any other period of time in the industrial era. $100 oil. They’ve spent more like billions on public relations and legislation influence and they are getting their ass kicked by a 16-year old girl. States like California, Colorado and New York are creating oil and gas bans. Cities like Austin (TX) and Fargo (ND) have leadership acting more like Boulder everyday.
I’ll give a great example. Two summers ago I spoke on a panel at an Energy Conference in Wyoming with four other professionals. These were the heads of the oil and gas councils from the surrounding states and a legislator from Colorado. I found myself losing a panel debate about connecting with today’s youth. I still stand by my belief that using sites like Twitch, YouTube and Instagram is a much better way to connect with today’s youth than buying television ads.
I say I lost that debate because the oil and gas companies continue to support the same people who agreed with the idea that television and talk radio are a better way to connect with kids than Twitch, YouTube and Instagram.
The body of work is done and the resources have been used. From my perspective, it looks like multiple presidential candidates are trying to transition off oil and gas industry without a plan. In my world, that’s closer to a ban than a transition. That’s an incredible shift from a decade ago we were talking about banning plastic straws and bags. Seriously, how did the nation go from talking about banning plastic bags and straws to banning the industry in less than a decade? If I was an oil and gas company, I would want better results from billions of dollars spent on engagement, advocacy and public relations. But maybe industry is content with the direction things are going and happy with the results they’ve gotten.
Another quick example for you from the owners of the Energy Exposition in Wyoming. They see there is a change happening and we were ready to launch a co-branded Conference Recycling Center effort with The Crude Life and the Energy Exposition.
That idea was canceled by COVID and for next year’s conference we are looking at the reality of the recycling center, but also reinventing water bottles at the 2021 conference. The short version is that plastic disposable water bottles will be replaced with a reusable water bottle option for everyone attending. So we are talking with the arena vendors because of contracts with beverage companies. Looking at the sponsorship pricing of the shift from disposable marketing to reusable marketing. We are not looking to use the word ban, rather use options, incentives and opportunity. Changing behavior is totally different than forcing people.
There are real changes being discussed and made. Changes are happening but they do not happen overnight.
So I totally understand why so many shareholders are upset with the industrial image right now. I understand why so many children are afraid of the future. Fear sells and controls, I just choose to not live in perpetual fear.
There are so many triggers in life right now. This is why The Industrial Forest is focusing on the positives. Folks, there are so many positives in life right now. For me, in this moment, I see how industry and the environment can not only work together but co-exist. How executives are becoming leaders in industry and shifting their image and public relations away from SWATA marketing and are planting seeds in Rooted Marketing.
Attendee 2: Will The Industrial Forest be open to the public?
Yes and no. The dream scenario would be a roadside rest area or city park, however, red tape, bureaucracy, politics and other special interests often get in the way of something as simple as planting trees. In order to ensure trees are planted as soon as possible, each state will start out as private industry planting on private land. Over the course of each state’s timeline, communities and counties will have an opportunity to manage or maintain The Industrial Forest. However, our main objective is to build sustainable forests, not create Instagram Pics or waste time and energy.
We already are working with the Mayor of Bismarck to make The Micro Industrial Park a walking park in the city limits. That’s the dream scenario out of the gate. A 5-acre Industrial Forest in the county with a secondary one in the city. That’s maximum exposure and maximum tree planting. Every Industrial Forest will be custom to each state sponsors’ desires, red tape, support and creativity.
But there’s a lot to get done in the next 12 months, so we are not going to throw definitive words out there just for splash effect. We are very excited to get started.
I would like to conclude this press conference and questions now, and will leave you with this. There is a new generation in oil and gas. There is a literal paradigm shift happening. People do not like change and often resist it. It makes them uncomfortable. We are already living in uncomfortable times and this is exactly why the oil and gas industry should be looked to for leadership.
The oil and gas industry lives uncertainty everyday. It is part of their business model and embedded in their DNA. Booms and Busts. $100 oil one day Negative Oil prices the next. Industry has to stay focused on the 5000-foot view, yet is very good at taking specific passions and piecing together a big picture. The Industrial Forest is a way to bridge the ideological and generational gaps while bringing everyone together to build sustainable forests.
Industry also puts it on the line. They have skin in the game and often make experienced moves out of instinct and survival. How many leaders making decisions about your life are guaranteed checkers? Meaning they get a check no matter what happens to you. There are many elected and appointed leaders being awful cavalier with people’s futures right now. Industry, like nature, cares more about results and merit than personal networks and entitlements.
So many people are afraid of their own personal short term future right now. It is easy to give into a global fear. Fear paralyzes humans and generates cash for advocacy groups. We need to put that fear behind us and realize we live on an active resilient planet with daily earthquakes, lightning strikes, electrical storms, and tornados. These are daily acts of nature. Hurricanes happen every four days. These are not signs of the end of the earth, this is the earth.
The Industrial Forest is planting sustainable trees for the future. It is a way to plant seeds of hope, inclusion and strength. It is a way to transition from the Planet of Platitudes to the Realm of Reality.
The world is changing right before our eyes. What we are witnessing is the start of a new world. This world is built upon compassion, hope, and an Environmental Energy. The Industrial EcoLution is more empowered than ever to use this momentum and unite industry to give back with service and invest in something bigger.
This movement is real and will be read about in history class by future generations. Today is an opportunity to deliver hope to the world. This is industry’s moment once again to become a leader in environmental action and show the world how to build a sustainable forest. We are asking all of industry to come and join the Industrial Ecolution.
It Takes An Industry To Build A Forest
