SB201 to be decided this week

WATERTOWN, S.D.(KWAT)–This will be an important week for the future of a proposed carbon sequestration pipeline in South Dakota.

The Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline would capture CO2 emissions from dozens of ethanol plants in the midwest, and transport it through a pipeline to south central North Dakota, where it would be buried deep underground.

Senate Bill 201, authored by Senate Majority Leader Casey Crabtree of Madison, will be heard on the Senate floor this week. Last week, it passed the Senate Commerce and Energy Committee on a 7-2 vote.

It would pay counties one-dollar for each foot of pipeline that runs through their county.

Additionally, it would allow the Public Utilities Commission, rather than local counties, to have the ruling authority on setback distances between the pipeline and other structures.

Glacial Lakes Energy (GLE) CEO Jim Seurer (sye-ur) was asked about that latter language, which strips control of setback distances away from counties.

Seurer says he’s not sure how patient Summit is willing to be as they wait for a decision on this project.

Seurer says GLE is taking a busload of shareholders to Pierre Wednesday to rally in support of the pipeline.