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Carbon pipeline future unclear in South Dakota

A South Dakota farmer says he’s not sure what will happen with the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline.

Paul Casper says he would like to see the project come to South Dakota for the market opportunities it provides corn growers, but…

“It’s in Summit’s hands right now, so we’ll see how that goes.”

A new law in South Dakota bans the use of eminent domain for carbon pipeline projects. And last week, Summit Carbon Solutions asked the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission to indefinitely delay their permit to build a carbon pipeline in the state. The commission denied the request and asked Summit to provide more information next week.

Casper says if the carbon pipeline isn’t built in the state, a new Gevo sustainable aviation fuel production might not come to South Dakota.

“We’ve had 25 years here in South Dakota where we had people, like myself, who have worked hard to bring added value ethanol and soybean plants to our state and others, and if that opportunity is lost because we can’t do aviation fuel, it’s really upsetting.”

He says some farmers have already changed their farming practices to build more carbon and take advantage of pending tax credits.

Summit tells Brownfield they will provide more information on a path forward for the project to the commission on Tuesday.