(SOUTH DAKOTA)– On Tuesday, Summit Carbon Solutions announced that it has submitted it’s permit application to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for the company’s proposed carbon pipeline route in the state.
The near 2,500-mile long project across Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota would capture and ship carbon dioxide emissions from 57 ethanol plants in the five states to an underground storage facility in North Dakota.
According to a Summit Carbon Solutions news release, CEO Lee Blank said “This project represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen South Dakota’s agricultural future while advancing energy innovation. By working hand-in-hand with landowners and communities, we’ve developed a project that balances progress with respect for those directly involved. Together, we’re creating a pathway to new markets and lasting economic growth for generations to come.”
The company said in its news release that “this filing reflects extensive engagement with South Dakotans to create a pipeline route shaped by direct stakeholder feedback, supporting agriculture and advancing energy innovation.” The project has received various degrees of pushback from landowners along the proposed pipeline route who object to the route and the use of eminent domain on their land. The company news release also indicated that “the (South Dakota) application also highlights major reroutes in Spink, Brown, McPherson, and Lincoln Counties, along with numerous micro-adjustments, resulting from more than a year of one-on-one work with landowners to find mutually agreeable solutions.”
This news of the South Dakota permit application comes just a few weeks after voters in South Dakota rejected a state law (Referred Law 21) that would have dictated how counties would regulate carbon pipelines across the state. It also comes just days after the North Dakota Public Service Commission approved a siting permit for the planned route of Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project in the state.
American Carbon Alliance CEO Tom Buis released the following statement regarding the Summit Carbon Solutions’ application to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission saying “The Summit pipeline project plays a vital role in strengthening America’s energy independence, boosting farmers’ profitability, driving job creation in rural areas, and advancing the development of cutting-edge biofuels. The approval of the Public Utility Commission in South Dakota is important, as Iowa and North Dakota have already granted a permit to allow the pipeline.”
Summit Carbon Solutions says it plans to begin construction in early 2026, with operations starting in 2027.
