PIERRE, S.D.(HubCityRadio)- The South Dakota House Commerce & Energy Committee heard testimony on SB201.  The bill would provide new statutory requirements for regulating linear transmission facilities, to allow counties to impose a surcharge on certain pipeline companies.

The bill’s prime sponsor for the House was the House Majority Leader Will Mortenson:

Mortenson talks about what the bill will do.

Mortenson discuss an amendment that was included just prior to the start of the session.

Among the supporters of the bill was Brett Koenecke, lobbyist for Summit Carbon Solutions.  He talked about how local government have crossed boundaries.

GEVO CEO, Kent Hartwig spoke in favor of SB201.

Glacial Lakes CEO Jim Seurer discuss why this bill is needed to prevent counties from changing their rules going forward.

Opponents also spoke on SB201.  Brown County Commissioner Drew Dennert was happy to see Section 7 of the bill removed but expressed concerns about the amendment dealing with the SD PUC(Public Utilities Commission).

Dennert believes compromises should have been made much sooner in the process.

DTOM’s Chief Executive Officer Christopher Reder testified about this could impact the horses he has at that location in case an explosion does take with these pipelines.

Lawyer Brian Jordre who has representing landowners opposed to the pipelines testified how this would change the rules going forward.

Jordre expressed concerns about Section 1 of the bill.

Representative Mortenson was given a chance to rebuttal and talked about some of the claims made by Jordre.

The committee passed SB201 on a 8-5 vote.  The bill now moves on to the House of Representatives.