Today, despite years of vocal opposition, the North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC) approved Summit Carbon Solutions, LLC’s permit application for what would be the largest carbon pipeline project in the world. If built, the pipeline would cross more than 2,000 miles across five states. It is the second time the North Dakota PSC has voted on Summit’s project; it denied the original permit application last year.

The project has drawn fierce grassroots opposition from climate, community, and Indigenous activists, pipeline safety advocates, farmers and landowners. Summit permits have been approved in Iowa and North Dakota, denied in South Dakota and are pending in Minnesota.

In response to the decision, Food & Water Watch Policy Director Jim Walsh issued the following statement: 

“Summit’s massive carbon pipeline scam is nothing but a gift to Big Ag and the polluting ethanol industry. The pipeline poses substantial risks to public safety, and will do little to nothing to reduce climate pollution. The whole project is made possible by massive federal tax credits and subsidies for the dangerous and unnecessary carbon capture industry. While Summit stands to make billions, it is our climate and communities that lose out. 

“While the company has won this round in North Dakota, this is not the end of the line. There are still decisions at the federal and state levels that will determine whether this dangerous pipeline is ever built. Today’s partial approval of this dangerous project underscores the urgent need for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to update the outdated regulations for carbon dioxide pipelines before any other authorizations are issued.”