North Dakota regulators inch closer to Summit pipeline decision

A North Dakota state agency last week moved closer to making a decision on what developers are calling the world’s largest carbon capture pipeline project.

During an Oct. 7 work session on the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline, the North Dakota Public Service Commission directed staff to prepare an order for the commissioners to vote on.

North Dakota is the end point of a five-state pipeline network linking 57 ethanol plants to an area in Oliver, Morton and Mercer counties. Carbon emissions captured from the plants would be permanently stored deep underground.

While the Iowa Utilities Commission has issued a permit for the Summit pipeline through the state, the panel required approval by regulators in North and South Dakota before construction can begin in Iowa.

It has been more than a year since the three-person commission first voted to deny Summit a route permit. The commission gave Summit a chance to amend its application and held another round of public hearings.

Summit’s changes include moving the route farther east of the city of Bismarck.

Commissioners last week did not discuss another work session or when a vote might take place. Commissioner Sheri Haugen-Hoffart requested an update from Summit on its efforts to obtain voluntary easements from landowners along the proposed route.

Summit says it has obtained about 80 percent of the route it needs through voluntary easements, with landowners receiving a payment in return for that right of way.

Without a voluntary easement, Summit may try to use eminent domain, which is getting a court order to force landowners to provide a right of way, though they would still receive some compensation.

Eminent domain has been a main point of contention from landowners who have voiced concerns about pipeline safety, damage to farmland and lower property values.

Summit and ethanol industry advocates say the carbon capture pipeline is needed to help lower carbon emissions and keep the ethanol industry competitive.

This story was originally published by the North Dakota Monitor, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.