IOWA FALLS, Iowa — South Dakota now has a law that bans the use of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines. The law does not stop the pipeline, but means that eminent domain will not be used in that state. The law offers some home for people in Iowa hoping to stop the pipeline.

“I guess I would like to thank South Dakota for what they did because I think it does help us,” said Kathy Stockdale, a farmer from Hardin County. “It gives us a basis to come to Iowa and say here South Dakota has passed no eminent domain for the CO2 pipeline.”

Stockdale has been battling the Summit Carbon Solutions plan to construct the pipeline from upper Midwest states to North Dakota, where the carbon would be stored.

“We’re hoping it’ll change the game for Iowa, when you talk to, I talk to a couple of the legislators this morning and they both said they truly believe it was God who led to the passing of this bill,” said Stockdale. “I think I’m amazed at South Dakota’s motto, I never knew what it was but it’s ‘under God the people rule’ and I think that’s a great model to have for a state because these people truly are showing that the people rule.”

Summit Carbon Solutions pledged to keep moving forward, despite this setback in a statement:

“It’s very unfortunate that, despite our approvals in Iowa, North Dakota, and Minnesota, South Dakota changed the rules in the middle of the game. This kind of regulatory uncertainty creates real challenges — not just for our project, but for the ethanol plants in South Dakota that now face a competitive disadvantage compared to their counterparts in neighboring states. While this presents obstacles, our project moves forward in states that support investment and innovation, and we will have more news on that soon.” 

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