North Dakota’s Public Service Commission threw a major roadblock in the path of Summit Carbon Solutions’ Midwest Carbon Express when it voted unanimously to deny the company’s hazardous CO2 pipeline permit. According to PSC Chair Randy Christmann, Summit “failed to meet its burden of proof to show that the location, construction, operation and maintenance will produce minimal adverse effects on the environment and on the citizen of North Dakota.”

Without the PSC permit, the Midwest Carbon Express is a pipeline to nowhere.

The Midwest Carbon Express is on shaky ground all along its multi-state route. Summit seeks a permit in Iowa with little more than two-thirds of easements signed.

Minnesota requires an Environmental Impact Study and will not allow eminent domain to be used for this project. South Dakotans, outraged by the lack of action in their legislature, are demanding Governor Noem call a special session.

Summit’s risky CO2 pipeline faces strong opposition. Diverse groups on the political spectrum have joined with impacted landowners to stop one of the biggest land grabs in American history. A recent poll in The Des Moines Register found that 80% of Iowans oppose the use of eminent domain for the dangerous CO2 pipelines.

In Iowa, Summit-impacted landowners have been frantically preparing for the IUB hearing on Summit’s permit, scheduled to begin in two short weeks, on August 22. This date was unexpectedly moved ahead from an anticipated start in October.

With no route to Summit’s sequestration site in North Dakota, the IUB should put the brakes on the Midwest Carbon Express. There is no urgent need to rush the permit process for a dangerous CO2 pipeline to nowhere. The IUB hearing on Summit Carbon Solutions’ permit should be postponed indefinitely.

Bonnie Ewoldt
Milford resident and Crawford County landowner

Story Ads 1