State schedules public input meetings on Summit carbon pipeline application

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission has scheduled a series of six public input meetings in January about a company’s permit application to construct a carbon dioxide pipeline.

The meetings are scheduled for Jan. 15-17 at various locations in eastern South Dakota near the proposed pipeline route.

Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions plans a 2,500-mile, $9 billion pipeline to capture carbon dioxide from 57 ethanol plants across five states, including eastern South Dakota, and transport it to North Dakota for underground storage. The project would capitalize on federal tax credits incentivizing the prevention of heat-trapping carbon emissions.

“The purpose of the public input meetings will be to hear public comments regarding the Application and the Project,” the commission said in a written order. “At the meetings, Summit will present a brief description of the Project, after which interested persons may appear and present their views, comments, and questions regarding the Application.”

Summit recently reapplied for a South Dakota permit after being rejected last year. The project has route permits in North Dakota and Iowa, while Minnesota is considering a permit and Nebraska has no state permitting process for carbon pipelines. North Dakota is also considering the proposed underground storage site.

The South Dakota public meeting schedule is:

• Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 10 a.m. CST at the Mitchell High School Performing Arts Center, 821 N. Capital St., Mitchell.
• Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 5 p.m. CST at the HUB Auditorium, Southeast Technical College, 2001 N. Career Ave., Sioux Falls.
• Thursday, Jan. 16, at 11:30 a.m. CST at De Smet Event Center Theater, 705 Wilder Lane, De Smet.
• Thursday, Jan. 16, at 6 p.m. CST at the Kampeska Hall, Ramkota Hotel & Watertown Event Center, 1901 Ninth Ave. SW, Watertown.
• Friday, Jan. 17, at 10:30 a.m. CST at the Dakota Room, The Dakota Event Center, 720 Lamont St., Aberdeen.
• Friday, Jan. 17, at 6 p.m. CST at Redfield School Auditorium, 111 E. Sixth Ave., Redfield.