Summit Carbon Solutions has unveiled a revised route for its proposed carbon pipeline network that no longer includes South Dakota, marking a significant shift for one of the most controversial carbon capture projects in the US.
The company said the updated plan would route captured carbon dioxide west through Nebraska before ultimately transporting it to Wyoming for underground storage. The announcement came as part of a broader update on adjustments to the pipeline’s Iowa route.
The change follows intense opposition in South Dakota, where landowners and local activists pushed back strongly against the project over property rights concerns.
That resistance culminated last year in the passage of legislation banning the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines – a major setback for Summit’s original plans.
Summit had initially proposed collecting CO2 emissions from ethanol plants across Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota before transporting the captured carbon for permanent underground storage in North Dakota.
Despite the latest announcement, some opponents believe South Dakota may still remain part of the company’s longer-term strategy.
Relevant: Summit Considers Leaving North Dakota Out Of Carbon Pipeline Route
“You know it’s not the end,” said Jared Bossly, a South Dakota landowner and prominent critic of the project.
In a later statement, Summit said South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota remain important to the company, even as it prioritizes a western route through Nebraska and Wyoming.
The company added that its existing permits, easements, and infrastructure agreements in those states still provide “valuable optionality for future phases.”
Property rights battles reshape carbon pipeline plans
The Summit project has become one of the highest-profile examples of growing tensions around carbon capture infrastructure in the US, particularly over the use of eminent domain.
Supporters argue the pipeline could help ethanol producers lower emissions and qualify for federal carbon reduction incentives. Critics, however, say private companies should not be allowed to seize land access for projects they see as commercially driven.
The project is designed to capitalize on federal tax credits tied to carbon capture and storage. Summit has also recently indicated that some of the captured CO2 could potentially be used for enhanced oil recovery, where carbon dioxide is injected into oil wells to increase production.
According to the company, the revised Iowa route would reduce the number of miles covered by the pipeline network and affect fewer landowners overall.
Read more: Landowners Reject Summit Carbon’s “Rebrand” Amid Ongoing Pipeline Disputes
