Bismarck City Commission Votes 5-0 To Urge PSC To Move CO2 Pipeline Route

After an hour of public testimony, the Bismarck City Commission passed a resolution to urge the North Dakota Public Service Commission to move pipeline at least 25 miles from the city outskirts.

In a big victory for rural-Bismarck residents and developers, the Bismarck City Commission has decided to back up the Burleigh County Commission’s work to defend its citizens from the impending carbon dioxide pipeline boondoggle currently planned to be routed just outside of Bismarck’s current Extra-Territorial Zone.

After an hour of testimony from local residents and developers, the commission discussed the terms of a resolution to send to the North Dakota Public Service Commission.

Two major points were highlighted:

1. The pipeline should be re-routed at least 25 miles from Bismarck’s extra-territorial zone.

2. The pipeline’s approval should wait until new federal regulations currently being drafted by PHMSA are approved, expected sometime in 2024.

Summit Carbon Solutions recently filed dozens of lawsuits against landowners who refuse to sell their land rights, or even let surveyors onto their property in South Dakota.

Summit is also suing several counties for trying to stand-up for their residents.

With such a “bull-in-a-china-shop” approach, it is likely a matter of time before the elected officials that have backed this project realize that it could blow up in their faces (literally and politically).

Time will tell if state and federal officials realize their citizens are not happy.

Until then, residents should thank their city and county officials for taking the lead.