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Eminent domain bill advances to SD Senate
A bill banning the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines in South Dakota will advance to the Senate floor.
On Monday, the South Dakota Senate State Affairs Committee voted House Bill 1052 out of committee and it’s expected to be heard in the Senate Tuesday. House Bill 1052 would add a new section to existing right-of-way carrier law preventing the use of eminent domain for pipelines carrying carbon oxide.
If the bill passes the Senate it will go to Governor Larry Rhoden’s desk for a signature. Rhoden tells Brownfield “we’re waiting to see what lands on my desk and we’ll make a decision based on what that bill contains.”
Rhoden says he’s always supported private property rights and he believes it’s possible to balance that and grow the state’s ethanol industry.
“I don’t think any of the legislation out there right now would completely shut them (Summit Carbon Solutions) down, but that would be for them to determine.”
However, Rhoden says Summit Carbon Solutions needs to earn back trust from landowners.
“I think a huge part of our problem is based on that lack of trust,” he says. “My motives are to protect landowner rights, but also, protect the opportunity for South Dakotans and South Dakota’s producers.”
Hear Brownfield’s full interview with Rhoden.
If the pipeline project moves forward, the Summit Carbon Solutions Pipeline would capture and transport carbon from at least 15 ethanol plants in central and eastern South Dakota.
Another eminent domain bill, Senate Bill 198, is also expected to be re-considered in the House State Affairs Committee this week.
The state legislative session is nearing the end and scheduled to wrap up in mid-March.
There aren’t even 15 ethanol plants in South Dakota.