Interview with State Rep. Mike Weisgram of Fort Pierre with Scott Hennen
PIERRE, S.D. – The Chair of the South Dakota House Commerce and Energy Committee says changes may come to the state’s eminent domain laws in relation to some lawmakers’ opposition to the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions carbon dioxide pipeline.
The project would be a 2,500 network of pipelines in five states including Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota taking emissions from ethanol plants to an underground storage site near Bismarck. Permits for the project have been approved in Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa. Summit’s first application in South Dakota was denied. The state’s Public Utilities Commission ruled the pipeline’s proposed route is in violation of setback ordinances in four counties that establish minimum distances between pipelines and homes.
Republican State Representative Mike Weisgram of Fort Pierre says many people disliked the Biden Administration and the green new deal and associate the project with that. He believes some South Dakota lawmakers could introduce a bill not allowing eminent domain to be used for projects dealing with a carbon dioxide pipeline.
“Those policies aren’t made in South Dakota. Adapting to the prevailing policies and making things better for the price of corn and soybeans. I think this project will help South Dakota. I am disappointed if that legislation moves forward and becomes law because I don’t like the direction it shows for South Dakota,” Weisgram said.
