North Dakota sets 4 hearings on Summit Carbon pipeline – Agweek
BISMARCK, ND — The North Dakota Public Service Commission has scheduled four hearings to gather public input into a controversial carbon capture pipeline.
The $4.5 billion Summit Carbon Solutions project aims to capture greenhouse gas emissions from 32 ethanol plants in five states and store them underground in western North Dakota.
The following hearing schedule was released on Wednesday, February 1:
- March 14, 8:30 am in the North Dakota Heritage Center Auditorium in Bismarck for Oliver, Morton and Burleigh Counties.
- 9.00am, March 28 at the North Sargent School Activity Center in Gwinner for Dickey and Sargent counties.
- April 11, 9:00 am at the Harry Stern and Ella Stern Cultural Center at the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton for Cass and Richland counties.
- May 9, 9:00 a.m. at the Emmons County Courthouse in Linton for Emmons, Logan and McIntosh counties.
In North Dakota, to be part of the PSC’s evidentiary records, public contributions are collected only at in-person hearings.
The North Dakota portion of the Midwest Carbon Express pipeline and storage sites will cost about $900 million, according to Summit Carbon Solutions.
The only ethanol facility in North Dakota that is part of the project is Tharaldson Ethanol in Casselton. Additional plants are located in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.
Jaryn Homiston / Agweek
A key theme of the 2,000-mile pipeline project is a significant area where private property can be taken if used as public.
On January 24, Summit announced that it had voluntary easement agreements for 58% of the pipelines’ route in North Dakota and 85% of the sequestration area in Morton and Oliver counties.
Summit says its goal has been 100% voluntary easements and is enrolling new landowners daily.
Several North Dakota counties have passed resolutions against using significant domains for the project
The Burleigh County Commission will discuss an ordinance on February 6 to further restrict hazardous liquid pipelines.
Emmons County passed an ordinance that would increase the project permit fee and require 100% voluntary easements.
The North Dakota Legislature is also considering legislation that could make it more difficult for companies to build carbon capture pipelines.
Summit says ethanol plants will be able to sell their corn-based fuel at a premium in markets that have adopted low-carbon fuel standards, such as California and Canada.
Opponents cite potential problems such as damage to farmland, negative impacts on property values and safety risks.
Summit must obtain a separate permit for the underground storage area for the liquid carbon dioxide.
