(FARGO, ND)– On Friday, the North Dakota Public Service Commission approved a siting permit for the planned route of Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project in the state.
The commission approved the permit unanimously, green lighting the project across five counties in the state. North Dakota PSC Chairman Randy Christmann says that he understands how some landowners are upset at the potential use of eminent domain by Summit Carbon and he hopes the company does not use it.
“We commend and respect the North Dakota Public Service Commission for their diligence and thoughtful approach in reviewing this project,” said Wade Boeshans, Executive VP of Summit Carbon Solutions in a company news release on Friday. “This decision is a testament to North Dakota’s commitment to fostering innovation while working closely with communities and industries. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with stakeholders across the state to deliver long-term benefits for farmers, energy producers, and local communities.”
American Carbon Alliance CEO Tom Buis, in a news release, stated that “we applaud the North Dakota Public Service Commission’s decision to allow Summit Carbon Solutions to build the pipeline in North Dakota. This makes North Dakota the second state, after Iowa, to approve a permit for the multi-state pipeline. The project is crucial for America’s energy security, restoring profitability to farmers, creating jobs in rural communities, and producing next-generation biofuels.”
The victory in North Dakota for Summit Carbon has happened a little over a week 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. The company has said it will apply for a permit in South Dakota on November 19th.
The company is looking to build a 2,000-mile long carbon pipeline across Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. It would capture and ship carbon dioxide emissions from 57 ethanol plants in the five states to an underground storage facility in North Dakota. The project has received pushback from many landowners who object to the route and the use of eminent domain on their land.
