Carbon pipeline permit hearing kicks off with clashes on multiple fronts

Date:

Heartland Greenway is one of two carbon capture projects seeking state approval

By Joshua Haiar

South Dakota Searchlight

         FORT PIERRE — A multi-day permit hearing for a proposed carbon capture pipeline got off to a tense start Tuesday at the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center as participants clashed over the rules of procedure and aspects of the project including land access, county-level regulations, safety and data quality.

         Brian Jorde, the attorney for some affected landowners, expressed concerns about the fairness of the proceedings. 

         “I hate to say it, but it seems like there is a foregone conclusion, at least in certain aspects of argument here,” Jorde told South Dakota Searchlight. 

         He said he was referring to a perceived bias in favor of the project on the part of some Public Utilities Commission staff members. The staff is assisting the three elected commissioners, Kristie Fiegen, Gary Hanson and Chris Nelson, who will ultimately decide whether to grant the permit.

         The proposed 1,300-mile Heartland Greenway pipeline, with a projected cost of more than $3 billion, is proposed by Navigator CO2. The pipeline would link more than 20 ethanol plants and several fertilizer plants across five states. There would be 111.9 miles of pipeline in eastern South Dakota, crossing five counties. The estimated cost of the South Dakota portion of the project is $142 million.

         The pipeline would capture carbon dioxide emitted by the plants and transport it in liquefied form for underground storage in Illinois, and for commercial and industrial uses. The project would be eligible for up to $1.3 billion in annual federal tax credits, which are intended to help fight climate change by incentivizing the removal of heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

         The Heartland Greenway is one of two proposed pipeline projects that would pass through the state. But unlike the other project proposed by Summit Carbon Solutions, Navigator CO2 has not yet used eminent domain – a court process to gain access to land when an agreement can’t be reached with a landowner. 

         During Tuesday’s hearing, Jorde asked a Navigator CO2 executive if the company will use eminent domain.

         “We strive to not go down that path,” said Jeff Allen, founding member and chief financial officer of the company.

         “So, the answer is no?” Jorde replied. Allen did not directly answer.

         Navigator has thus far struck access agreements — called “easements” — with about 30% of the owners of land the pipeline would cross. Jorde argued the lack of agreements with 70% of impacted landowners is a reason for regulators to deny a permit. 

WANT TO SEE MORE?

More article below - Read with a mailed subscription account or full on-line subscription!

Your financial support of this locally-owned, locally-run newspaper and its advertisers ensures we can continue bringing you great content. Thank you for your support!

FULL ARTICLE AVAILABLE NOW TO ALL MAIL SUBSCRIBERS

All mailed issue subscribers can receive access to the full version of some articles, archives, and more. To claim, create a user account - we'll verify the current mailed subscription and get your access activated! (Please allow up to 3 business days for activation.) Alternately, you can pay for your subscription here and automatically get a mailed subscriber log-in.


Already have an account? Log In:

South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. South Dakota Searchlight maintains editorial independence.

Share post:

spot_img

Related articles

Ethanol cooperative kicks in another $400,000 to support carbon pipeline ballot question

By: Joshua Haiar, SD Searchlight             A cooperative that owns four ethanol plants has made a second $400,000 contribution to...

Referred Law 21 Ad Exposes Dangers of CO2 Pipelines with 911 Call from 2020 Explosion

            Brookings, SD – October 21, 2024 – Dakota Rural Action, a South Dakota-based organization that has been...

Local landowners talk with experts about carbon pipeline issues

            Over the weekend local landowners met in Sioux Falls at the Riverview Barn to discuss the proposed...

Pipeline won’t capture all carbon emitted by ethanol plants

Corn fermentation emissions would be sequestered, but emissions from gas-powered machinery would go into the atmosphere By: Joshua Haiar, SD...

Log In

Latest articles

Celebrate our Veterans next Monday

Mark Williamson to be featured speaker             Veteran’s Day is next Monday, and there are two veteran’s Day Programs...

City talks Dog Park and appoints Matthew “Jake’ Jacobson to fill Tom Godbey’s seat

            Garretson may have a dog park within the next few years, if the vote taken at Monday...

Once a hospital, now a Garretson home

by Jill Meier, Brandon Valley Journal Addendum below             When Brandon Schweitzer purchased a massive house in 2016 that was once...

Trunk or Treat Fun

The Trunk or Treat in Split Rock Park and Downtown was plenty of fun for all last week,...

Mayor’s Desk for November, 2024

            I am going to deviate from my normal monthly column this month. I want to talk a...

Will GHS VB get that sweet 16?

UPDATE 11/7/24: Garretson Volleyball will be playing Baltic in Baltic at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 7. The...
s2Member®