Summit proceeds with pipeline expansion amid uncertainty in Dakotas

Construction begins amid legal challenges and Native American opposition

Despite ongoing legal challenges and opposition from Native American tribes, Summit Carbon Solutions has begun construction on its carbon capture pipeline project in the Dakotas.

The $4.5 billion project aims to capture carbon dioxide from ethanol plants in Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, and the Dakotas and transport it to North Dakota for storage underground.

Summit claims the project will create jobs and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but opponents argue that it will harm the environment and infringe on tribal sovereignty.

Legal challenges and Native American opposition

The project has faced several legal challenges, including a lawsuit filed by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, which argues that the pipeline would cross sacred land and pose a threat to water resources.

Other tribes, including the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the Oglala Sioux Tribe, have also expressed opposition to the project, citing concerns about environmental impacts and potential damage to cultural resources.

In March 2023, a federal judge ruled that construction could proceed while the lawsuit filed by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is pending.

Environmental concerns

Opponents of the pipeline argue that it will harm the environment by disturbing sensitive ecosystems and potentially leaking carbon dioxide into the air or groundwater.

They also argue that the project will contribute to climate change by transporting carbon dioxide that would otherwise be stored underground.

Summit maintains that the pipeline will be safe and environmentally friendly, and that it will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing carbon dioxide from ethanol plants.

Economic benefits

Summit claims that the project will create jobs and boost the economy of the Dakotas.

The company estimates that the project will create 2,500 jobs during construction and 150 permanent jobs once operational.

Opponents argue that the economic benefits of the project are overstated, and that it will harm the tourism industry by damaging the environment.

Conclusion

The Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project is a controversial project that has faced legal challenges and opposition from Native American tribes and environmental groups.

The project has the potential to create jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but opponents argue that it will harm the environment and infringe on tribal sovereignty.

The outcome of the legal challenges and the ongoing opposition from Native American tribes will likely determine the fate of the project.