PIERRE — South Dakota landowners opposed to looming pipeline projects are officially one step closer to fending off Big Carbon.
On Thursday, legislators voted 40-28 to pass House Bill 1133, a bill that effectively prohibits carbon capture companies, like Summit Carbon Solutions and Navigator CO2 Ventures, from utilizing the state’s eminent domain laws to build their multi-billion dollar hazardous liquid carbon dioxide pipelines through parts of South Dakota.
Since the early days of this year’s legislative session, a mish-mashed wave of plaid-and-suit wearing farmers and landowners have occupied South Dakota’s Capitol to stand in opposition of the pipelines, Mark Lapka, a landowner from Leola, told the Argus Leader on Thursday.