North Dakota PSC to Vote on Controversial Carbon Pipeline Project
The North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC) is set to convene on Friday at 10 a.m. to vote on the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project, which aims to permanently store carbon emissions underground west of Bismarck. This $8 billion pipeline network is designed to gather carbon emissions from ethanol plants across five states, including North Dakota’s Tharaldson Ethanol plant in Casselton.
Initially denied a permit in 2023, Summit has since modified its proposed route and is appealing the prior decision. The commission has held several public hearings surrounding the project’s implications. Proponents argue that the pipeline is crucial for bolstering the competitiveness of the ethanol sector in the low-carbon fuel market, providing essential support to corn growers in the region.
Conversely, opposition to the pipeline has been mounting, with critics raising concerns over safety, potential damage to farmland and property values, and the infringement of property rights. Some landowners have specifically voiced dissatisfaction with Summit’s business practices.
While Iowa has granted Summit the necessary permit, the company plans to reapply in South Dakota. Additionally, Minnesota’s Public Utilities Commission is scheduled to vote on a crucial segment of the project on December 12, and Nebraska currently lacks a state agency to oversee CO2 pipeline permits.
Summit anticipates leveraging federal tax credits of $85 per ton of CO2, with plans to sequester 18 million tons of carbon dioxide annually in North Dakota. To proceed, Summit will also require a separate storage permit from the North Dakota Industrial Commission.
The outcome of the PSC meeting will be closely monitored, as the pipeline’s future remains a contentious topic among stakeholders in the state.
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Photo credit southdakotasearchlight.com
