The company behind one of the 2 largest proposed carbon dioxide pipelines in the Midwest says it’s giving up on the $3-billion dollar carbon sequestration plan.
The Navigator CO2 project would have gathered carbon dioxide emitted by ethanol and fertilizer plants and transported it from Nebraska, South Dakota and 3 other states for storage underground in Illinois.
Navigator CO2 says “the unpredictable nature of the regulatory and government processes involved, particularly in South Dakota and Iowa, the Company has decided to cancel its pipeline project.”
The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission unanimously denied a permit for the Heartland Greenway project on Sept. 6 after a 2-week hearing. That led the company to ask to suspend the permit process in Iowa and withdraw its application in Illinois.
Navigator CEO Matt Vining issued a statement saying “I am proud that throughout this endeavor, our team maintained a collaborative, high integrity, and safety-first approach and we thank them for their tireless efforts.”
Vining said they also thank all the individuals, trade associations, labor organizations, landowners, and elected officials who supported the company and carbon capture in the Midwest.
South Dakota State Representative Karla Lems says the South Dakota opposition grew largely out of safety concerns over possible carbon dioxide leaks from the pipeline, especially from many landowners along the – including her.
A similar but separate proposal from Summit Carbon Solutions is still active, even though its permit application has also been denied in South Dakota. Summit has said it plans to modify its route and reapply.
Company spokesperson Sabrina Zenor said Friday that Summit is “well-positioned to add additional plants and communities to our project footprint” and remains “as committed to our project as the day we announced it.”
If the “science” regarding climate change is accurate (which it is not), why would a company cancel plans for such a “worthwhile” project?