Des Moines, Iowa – Summit Carbon Solutions is pressing Iowa regulators to modify its permit for a multistate carbon pipeline, even as the project faces legal and regulatory roadblocks in South Dakota.
This week, Summit filed a petition with the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) seeking to remove a key condition from its 2023 permit, which required securing construction approvals in North Dakota and South Dakota before starting work in Iowa.
The IUC had initially approved the company’s permit in June 2023 for over 600 miles of pipeline across Iowa, but construction could not begin until all neighboring states’ permits were in place. Summit’s new petition argues for lifting that restriction, citing delays in South Dakota as a primary obstacle.
In South Dakota, the project has faced repeated setbacks. Regulators twice denied Summit’s permit requests, and a new state law now blocks the use of eminent domain for the five-state pipeline, effectively halting progress through that state. Despite this, Summit’s latest Iowa filing still includes maps showing routes entering South Dakota.
The petition has drawn criticism from South Dakota officials. U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson called the pipeline proposal “a pipeline to nowhere.”
“I don’t know where Summit’s coming from, clearly a pipeline to South Dakota would be a pipeline to nowhere,” Johnson said.
“Right now it’s very clear, state law is not gonna allow that pipeline to get built,” he added.
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Summit Carbon Solutions describes the pipeline as the world’s largest carbon capture and storage project, aimed at reducing emissions and supporting the biofuels industry. Supporters argue the project is essential for capturing carbon dioxide from ethanol production and strengthening the Midwest renewable energy sector.
Opponents, however, have raised concerns about landowner rights, eminent domain use, and environmental impacts. The legal and regulatory hurdles in South Dakota have intensified scrutiny on the project, leaving the Iowa permit modification as the next battleground.
“The pipeline is crucial for capturing emissions from ethanol plants and transporting them to storage facilities,” a Summit representative said. “We are committed to working with regulators to ensure the project moves forward responsibly and efficiently.”
The outcome of the Iowa Utilities Commission decision could determine whether Summit Carbon can proceed with construction in Iowa independently, or whether the South Dakota block will halt the broader multistate project entirely.
Construction supporters argue the project would create hundreds of local jobs and strengthen renewable fuel infrastructure, while critics continue to highlight regulatory and legal uncertainties as a major obstacle.
Originally reported by Pipeline Technology Journal.
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