Speakers Show Frustration with Lake County Commission

A number of Lake County residents turned out and spoke to the County Commission during its regular meeting on Tuesday. Five different members of the audience took turns during the public comment period, to voice their opposition to the Summit Carbon Solutions Pipeline, and to ask the commissioners to draft an ordinance regulating CO2 pipelines. 

In June of 2023, Minnehaha County Commissioners passed an ordinance putting 330 feet between rural property lines and pipelines, with further setbacks from cities. Moody County meanwhile set into place a 1,500-foot setback.

In September of 2023 the Public Utilities Commission denied a permit application from Summit Carbon Solutions, saying that Summit’s proposed route is in direct violation of “setback” ordinances adopted in Brown, McPherson, Minnehaha and Spink counties. 

One one those who spoke on Tuesday was Aaron Johnson, who expressed his displeasure with the commission’s decision to not take up CO2 setbacks. 

Also attending the meeting was Laura Zwart, who echoed Johnson’s frustrations. 

When asked later in the meeting, commissioners said they had no plan to add discussion of pipeline ordinances to any future meetings agendas. 

In August, the South Dakota Supreme Court said in a ruling that Summit Carbon Solutions has not yet proven it should be allowed to take private land for public use, and sent the matter back to the lower courts.