Source: Summit Carbon Solutions

The South Dakota House of Representatives passed bill 49-10 that would ban the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines. The legislation now heads to the state Senate.

House Speaker Pro Tempore Karla Lems introduced the legislation. She said it does not stop carbon pipelines from being built. She stressed that the pipeline companies don’t have the supreme power of eminent domain.

Summit Carbon Solutions is currently planning a $9 billion pipeline to transport carbon dioxide emissions emitted by 57 ethanol plants in five states. This includes eastern South Dakota. Summit secured voluntary easement agreements with some landowners but needs to enforce eminent domain to gain access from landowners who are not willing to sign easements.

Opponents of the bill warned that it could harm the ethanol industry. Proponents of the bill point out that carbon pipelines can be hazardous when they leak and there is no clarity on future environmental policy.

Read more on South Dakota’s efforts to ban eminent domain for carbon pipelines here.