SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) 鈥� The massive carbon capture pipeline in the Midwest was thrown into uncertainty Tuesday after South Dakota鈥檚 Public Utility Commission denied its route permit application.
The commission voted 2-1 to deny the application by Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions, with Commissioner Kristie Fiegen saying it was 鈥渘ot ready to go forward鈥� and lacked 鈥渢he form and content required.鈥�
South Dakota lawmakers passed for carbon capture pipelines in March that makes Summit鈥檚 planned route difficult, commissioners agreed. After the decision, Summit said it will refile its application with a reduced route in South Dakota to satisfy landowners and ethanol plant partners.
鈥淲hile we are disappointed in today鈥檚 decision, we remain committed to South Dakota as without it the ethanol industry, farmers, and land values in the state will all suffer,鈥� the company said in a statement.
South Dakota is a crucial part of the 2,500-mile pipeline, estimated to cost $8.9 billion. The pipeline would transport carbon emissions from ethanol plants in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota to be stored underground permanently in North Dakota.
Landowners rejoiced over the Tuesday decision.
鈥淭oday is a victory for South Dakota landowners and local control," Dakota Rural Action board member Ed Fischbach said in a statement. "We are grateful the PUC has made this common sense decision and freed landowners to get on with their lives and businesses.鈥�
Summit had previously on its permit application to rework its route in a way that would satisfy landowners.
Questions about the pipeline arose after South Dakota lawmakers approved a ban on eminent domain for carbon capture projects, in which the government can seize private property with compensation. Without that power, Summit would need to secure voluntary agreements with landowners along the South Dakota route.
In its filing for an extension, Summit said it would work with landowners and the state in 鈥済ood faith鈥� rather than challenge the eminent domain ban. That statement convinced commissioners that there was no path forward for Summit and its current route.
Instead of pursuing legal action against the state, Summit said in its filing that additional time would allow it to 鈥渞oll out new offers to landowners鈥� and identify which branches to ethanol plants it can eliminate that face significant landowner opposition.
The ethanol industry is concentrated in the Midwest, with nearly 40% of the nation鈥檚 corn used to brew ethanol. By sequestering carbon in North Dakota, Summit鈥檚 pipeline promises to lower the carbon intensity of ethanol and make it more competitive as a sustainable product.
Sarah Raza, The Associated Press
