‘Not going to bend’: Pipeline critics vow to fight as lawmakers head to Pierre

Struggle between property rights advocates, ethanol backers continues into new legislative session

A crowd gathers in the state capitol rotunda for a landowner’s rights rally ahead of the state legislative session. (Austin Goss/The Dakota Scout)

Carbon pipeline critics and property rights advocates in South Dakota aren’t letting their guard down in the wake of a few political and procedural victories in recent months.

That’s the message dozens of them from across the state — landowners, politicians and allies — hoped to send by braving poor weather conditions to get to the South Dakota Capitol Monday for a demonstration on the eve of the state’s 99th Legislative Session.

“We are not going to bend the knee,” Rep. Jon Hansen said while addressing onlookers during the property rights rally inside the Capitol rotunda.

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The gathering, which featured local and state government officials, along with concerned citizens along the pipeline route, comes as eminent domain reforms and carbon sequestration projects continue to drive conversations in South Dakota and the Midwest, where ethanol companies hope to use pipelines to lessen the amount of carbon they emit. Those ambitions, however, have faced fierce opposition in the region, with legislatures, county governments, and state regulators in South Dakota and other neighboring states creating hurdles — sometimes insurmountable — for a pair of pipeline projects proposed to be routed through their jurisdictions.

And though landowner outcry and permit rejections proved too much for Navigator Co2 to overcome — the Texas-based company abandoned its plans entirely in November — rally-goers at the Capitol say they’re ready to keep up the fight against a second project still being pushed by Summit Carbon Solutions.

“Last time we were here, there were two carbon pipeline companies,” Hansen said — referencing Navigator’s shuttering.