Hundreds of landowners, lawmakers and supporters held a demonstration at the Capital in Pierre Thursday. The goal of the protest was to pressure lawmakers and Governor Kristi Noem to call a special session of the legislature to strengthen eminent domain laws, protecting landowners against a proposed carbon capture pipeline.
Spink county landowner Ed Fischback made the demand clear…
This issue was explored last legislative session, but no new eminent domain laws were created by lawmakers. The House passed a bill which would have strengthened protections for landowners, but it died in the senate.
House member Oren Lesmeister, Democrat of Parade, says the powers that want this pipeline are trying to divide those against it…
Summit Carbon Solutions, the company responsible for the proposed pipeline says it has secured over 70 percent of the easements necessary to build the project through northeast and north central South Dakota and obtained them through voluntary needs. The company claims it does not wish to use eminent domain laws to get the project completed. Proponents also argue the pipeline is necessary to maintain a viable ethanol industry in South Dakota.
House member Jon Hanson, Republican of Dell Rapids, has become one of the most vocal members of the legislature against the carbon capture pipeline, used a populous message to try and get his point across…
