PIERRE, S.D.(HubCityRadio)- The South Dakota Senate on Wednesday debated SB201.  The bill provide new statutory requirements for regulating linear transmission facilities, to allow counties to impose a surcharge on certain pipeline companies.

Prime sponsor of the bill was Senate Majority Leader Casey Crabtree of Madison.

Among those in support of the bill was Senator David Wheeler of Huron who explains that counties can’t do setback because of federal laws.

Senator Steve Kolbeck of Brandon who used to serve on the South Dakota PUC compare the CO2 pipeline to the Keystone pipelines passed when he was on the commission.

Among those oppose to SB201 was Senator Brent Hoffman of Hartford who tried to counter Senator Wheeler’s argument regarding the counties right to having setbacks.

Senator Tom Plischke of Dell Rapids opposed it because of what was in section 7 of the bill.

Senate Pro Temp Lee Schoenbeck of Watertown express the money generated by the pipelines would help counties with their funding.

Senate Minority Leader Reynold Nesiba of Sioux Falls talks about his support for the bill to help with the agriculture industry going forward.

One of the provisions of the bill was the emergency clause that would allow it to go into effect immediately after the Governor’s signature.  Senator Hoffman questions the use of the clause.

Senator Crabtree offered a closing argument to address concerns raised by those opposed.

The Senate voted 23-11 on the bill, however didn’t garner the 24 votes needed because of the emergency clause.  An amendment eliminating the emergency was placed in to allow it pass on the 23-11 vote.