State regulators in North Dakota Friday (11.15) approved a pipeline route permit for Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed carbon capture pipeline.
The route approved by the North Dakota Public Service Commission is part of a 25-hundred mile proposed project covering five states, including Iowa. The decision was an important step according to Summit C-E-O Lee Blank.
The approval has a direct impact on Summit’s pipeline in Iowa, since its permit for construction in Iowa stipulates it can’t begin until the project is fully approved in both North and South Dakota.
Sierra Club of Iowa’s Jessica Mazour says pipeline opponents are disappointed in the permit decision, but the fight is far from over.
Summit was expected to reapply for a permit in South Dakota on Tuesday (11.19).
One branch of Summit’s approved “mainline” would begin with the Homeland Energy Solutions ethanol plant between Lawler and New Hampton. It would then be built west through Chickasaw, Floyd and Cerro Gordo counties among others.
Summit has also applied for a separate permit to bring additional ethanol plants into the fold as well, including Valero Renewables near Charles City, Absolute Energy near Saint Ansgar, and Poet Biocessing near Shell Rock and Fairbank.
***Rachel Cramer with Iowa Public Radio contributed to this story
