South Dakota law raises questions about future of massive Midwest pipeline
Source: AP
Updated 12:03 AM EDT, March 9, 2025
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A new law in South Dakota prohibiting the use of eminent domain to acquire land for carbon capture pipelines raises questions about the viability of a proposed 2,500 mile (4,023-kilometer) project snaking through five Midwest states. Summit Carbon Solutions, the company behind the estimated $8.9 billion pipeline, vowed to keep pursuing the project despite South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden’s announcement Thursday that he had signed a bill into law that will make routing the line much more difficult.
The law bans Summit from forcing South Dakota landowners to allow the pipeline through their property. Plans call for the pipeline to carry greenhouse gas emissions from more than 50 ethanol plants in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota to a spot in North Dakota, where it would be permanently stored underground.
Legal action is possible
It’s unclear whether Summit will pursue legal action but the company said in a statement that “all options are on the table” and the project “moves forward” in other states. The company promised it would have more news soon.
Large pipeline projects typically rely on eminent domain, with companies arguing that even if most landowners agree to grant access to their property, a project can be scuttled if only a few refuse. Summit says the company, which has secured over 2,700 easements across the region, has approval for routes in Iowa and North Dakota and a leg in Minnesota.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/south-dakota-pipeline-carbon-capture-51228b75c04db6cad518b4af715a0185
This is an interesting turn of events. "Oil" was okay for the Dakota and Keystone XL pipelines (well other than after a big spill) - South Dakota Warns It Could Revoke Keystone Pipeline Permit Over Oil Spill
where they planned to force those through Native American property. But now suddenly, "eminent domain" appears as a reason for refusal for this particular pipeline.
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