Public Service Commission Chair Randy Christmann, right, asks questions April 22, 2024, during a public hearing on the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline. At left is Commissioner Sheri Haugen-Hoffart. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
(North Dakota Monitor) -The North Dakota Public Service Commission has scheduled a work session for 1:30 p.m. Monday to discuss the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline.
The session in the Pioneer Room of the Capitol is open to the public but will not include an opportunity for public comment. Commissioners will discuss the project with staff and legal counsel, but they are not expected to make a decision on the permit application.
The three-member commission denied a permit for the proposed pipeline last year. The commission held another series of public meetings this spring after Summit revised its permit application.
Summit has made changes to the pipeline route in North Dakota, moving farther away from Bismarck in response to landowners concerns. The company also made changes to avoid landslide and wildlife areas. The project continued to draw strong opposition from some landowners during the most recent public hearings.
PSC chair Randy Christmann said he anticipates the commission will need more than one work session to discuss the project before members can consider taking a vote.
“I really want to have a thorough discussion of everything,” he said.
The $8 billion project would capture carbon emissions from 57 ethanol plants in five states. The CO2 would be piped to an underground storage area northwest of Bismarck.
A livestream of the work session also will be available.
Meanwhile, a public comment period for a small section of pipeline proposed for western Minnesota continues through Sept. 11.
This was updated to add comment from Randy Christmann.
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