A new law in South Dakota has made it harder for a massive carbon capture pipeline to move forward, raising serious doubts about a project that falsely claims to be a climate solution. The law stops private land from being taken through eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines, effectively blocking a key part of Summit Carbon Solutions’ $8.9 billion plan. This is good news for landowners and a step toward better energy policies.
The pipeline, if built, would transport carbon dioxide from more than 50 ethanol plants across five Midwest states to North Dakota, where the company plans to store it underground. Proponents argue that this will help reduce emissions and support the ethanol industry. But in reality, carbon capture is a distraction from real climate solutions, allowing polluters to continue business as usual.
A 2022 study from the Center for International Environmental Law found that carbon capture has failed to reduce emissions at a meaningful scale and instead increases fossil fuel production. Read more. Moreover, pipelines carrying compressed CO2 are dangerous. A 2020 pipeline rupture in Mississippi left people unconscious and struggling to breathe. Read more.
Ethanol, which the pipeline is meant to support, is also a false climate solution. Nearly 40% of the U.S. corn crop is used to produce ethanol, yet research shows it does little to cut emissions. A 2022 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that corn-based ethanol is likely worse for the climate than gasoline when considering land use changes, fertilizer emissions, and processing. Read more.
Instead of wasting billions on pipelines and ethanol, real climate solutions should focus on expanding truly clean energy—like solar, wind, and battery storage. Investing in energy efficiency, public transit, and electrification would actually cut emissions without harming landowners or the environment.
South Dakota’s new law protects landowners from being forced to give up their property for a risky, unnecessary pipeline. This law is a step in the right direction, preventing a project that only benefits corporations chasing federal tax credits while failing to address the climate crisis. The fight isn’t over, but blocking false solutions like carbon capture and ethanol is essential to making way for real progress.
