County commission hears from residents concerned about pipeline

Several Lake County residents and property owners spoke to Lake County Commissioners during their meeting Tuesday regarding their concerns with the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions carbon dioxide pipeline.  Commissioners had a couple of items on their agenda regarding the pipeline Tuesday, including a conditional use permit to build utility and service structures to capture CO2 emissions from the Dakota Ethanol plant.  This was approved by commissioners, while a utility occupancy application for ten roadway crossings in the county was denied.  Both were presented by TurnKey Logistics, LLC, representing the applicant Summit Carbon Solutions Carbon Transport.

Property owner Betty Strom told commissioners during the Community Comments portion of their meeting that she feels that they aren’t hearing the people’s concerns regarding the proposed pipeline.

Strom told commissioners that it is their responsibility to help protect the safety of county residents when it comes to considering issues regarding the proposed carbon capture pipeline.

Also during the commission’s Community Comments portion of its meeting, county resident Charlie Johnson asked commissioners to consider holding a community open house listening session for residents to bring their concerns regarding setbacks and response plans regarding CO2 pipelines.

Those in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting could not speak during the commission’s consideration of the utility occupancy application for the pipeline, but were allowed to testify during the public hearing on the conditional use permit, and also during the commission’s Community Comments portion of the meeting. 

February 23, 2023