Summit vows reform, will dismiss 160 condemnation lawsuits in South Dakota

Opponents to pipeline project not converted by promises

Kylie Lange, left, of Summit Carbon Solutions, and Jim Seurer of Glacial Lakes Energy visit with the Brown County Commission on Tuesday, Sept. 26. (Aberdeen Insider photo by Scott Waltman)

Summit Carbon Solutions is working to refresh its maligned image in South Dakota.

Kylie Lange, a senior project manager, and Alex Lange, director of engineering, appeared at the Brown County Commission meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 26. They said Summit will resubmit its construction permit to build a carbon sequestration pipeline to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, but wants to be more transparent, open and pleasant in working with landowners and counties.

To that end, Alex Lange said, Summit is in the works of dropping 160 condemnation lawsuits filed against landowners across the state.

However, Kylie Lange said she couldn’t promise that Summit wouldn’t seek the use of eminent domain in the future.

Kylie Lange told a crowd that spilled out of the commission chambers that she knows the company has a bad reputation and that it wants to do better. She said she knew there would be unhappy people at the commission meeting, but told them she will work with them and answer their questions.

Summit, she said, has also received the clear message from the PUC that it needs to work more closely with counties and is willing to do so.

As part of Summit’s commitment to that goal, she said she and Alex Lange are moving to Aberdeen and that she will regularly attend county meetings to give commissioners updates and answer any questions.

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