PIERRE, S.D.- (SEARCHLIGHT DAILY) – Standing before a crowd of hundreds of carbon dioxide pipeline opponents Monday at the South Dakota Capitol, a lawmaker announced her bill to ban the use of eminent domain for carbon pipeline projects.
Rep. Karla Lems introduced the bill to attendees as “a building block” toward protecting property rights.
The rally, held a day before Gov. Kristi Noem’s State of the State address will kick off the 2025 legislative session — brought together landowners, property rights advocates, and other critics of carbon pipeline development.
Speakers voiced frustration over Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions’ potential use of eminent domain to acquire land for its proposed pipeline. The $9 billion project would capture some of the carbon dioxide emitted by 57 ethanol plants in five states, including eastern South Dakota.
The project already has an underground storage permit in North Dakota and route permits in North Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota, while Nebraska has no state permitting process for carbon pipelines. The project also faces litigation from opponents in multiple states.
Pipeline supporters have defended the use of eminent domain, asserting the project serves the public good by increasing ethanol demand and addressing climate change.
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