David Moch of Hazelton. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)
North Dakota Monitor) – David Moch signed an easement agreement with Summit Carbon Solution allowing the carbon capture project developer to put a pipeline through his land, but he said signed only because of the threat of eminent domain — a court ordering him to provide a right-of-way for the pipeline.
Moch, of Hazelton, said he spent $9,600 on a lawyer to ensure he had the strongest agreement possible, but he is still opposed to the pipeline and its potential use of eminent domain.
Moch was among those who testified this week in favor of bills that limit the ability of Summit and other carbon pipeline developers to use eminent domain.
Summit Carbon Solutions is an Iowa-based company seeking to build a $9 billion five-state network of pipelines capturing CO2 emissions from ethanol plants. Summit’s pipeline would send the CO2 for permanent underground storage in western North Dakota.
Summit Carbon Solutions officials and representatives from the ethanol, coal and oil and gas industries testified against the bills.
