A South Dakota House committee has approved two bills they say equalize the carbon-pipeline playing field.
The bills come after two carbon sequestration pipelines were denied permits by the Public Utilities Commission last year.
One of the bills spells out what companies must do if they’re denied entry on private property to survey property. In addition to a required siting permit from the PUC, a company must provide a thirty-day notice.
The bill requires any interested company to say when and where they want to survey, as well as make a one-time $500 dollar payment to the owner.
Rep. Will Mortenson is the Republican Majority Leader and prime sponsor of the bill. He said state law should be fairer to property owners.
“I think it should show a little more respect to the landowner, and that is, they were complying with the statute as it was last year. I think we can set a little higher bar and that’s kinda what this bill is about,” said Mortenson.
Some said carbon pipelines are the future for the ethanol industry.
However, not all organizations are completely on-board.
Steve Willard is the Executive Director of the South Dakota Industrial Electric Utility Companies. He expressed support for the bill overall, but outlined major disagreements he says his team has.
“They said that ‘$500 dollars is insulting.’ That essentially, we have monetized the conversation. They said that ‘relationships, transparency, communication, goes substantially further than money in this particular case,'” said Willard.
Mortenson responded to Willards concern directly, stating he has never encountered a farmer or rancher who was insulted by receiving a check.
The second bill, HB 1186 defines requirements for carbon pipeline easements that a company must meet for PUC approval.
Both bills now head to the House floor for a vote.
