Republican South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed a bill Thursday that prohibits the use of famous areas of carbon dioxide pipelines to ensure land conservation for farmers across the state. [emphasis, links added]
The bill (HB 1052) prohibits the government from seizing land from the C02 pipeline. This puts the fate of Summit Carbon Solutions at a potential $9 billion, and the 2,500-mile pipeline project could be suspended in the air, as South Dakota is a key player in the program.
Summit's pipeline is to transport C02 from five Midwest states to an underground storage location in South Dakota, known as the world's largest carbon capture project.
“The landowners in South Dakota strongly believe that the involuntary easement of the proposed CO2 pipeline that violates their freedoms and property rights violates their freedoms and property rights,” Roden wrote in a letter to the Legislature and the people of South Dakota.
“I have said many times that the summit needs to restore the trust of South Dakota landowners. Unfortunately, once the trust is lost, it is difficult to regain it.”
“This is my public information to Summit Carbon or anyone else who wants to abuse our fellow South Dakota abuse,” wrote on X.
“Your green new deal is clumsy; your lawsuit; your threats; your intimidation against our people, our counties and grassroots specialists is unwelcome.”
“Unfortunately, despite our approval in Iowa, North Dakota and Minnesota, South Dakota changed the rules in the game,” summit spokesman Sabrina Zenor said in a statement.
“The governor has made it clear that HB 1052 is targeting a company – Summit Carbon Solution,” Zenor continued. “Unfortunately, a legislation is made around a company rather than addressing broader infrastructure and economic policies.”
“This is definitely a win for the little guy.” Steve Milloy, a senior legal researcher at the Institute of Energy and Environmental Law, told DCNF.
“Carbon capture is economically, politically and physically impossible,” he said, calling carbon capture “completely false”, “the only reason is that oil companies can get taxpayer subsidies for it.”
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