Lawmakers Vote Down 6 Bills to Limit Carbon Capture in North Dakota

Rep. SuAnn Olson, R-Baldwin.  (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

(Jeff Beach – North Dakota Monitor) – Members of the North Dakota House showed their commitment to pipelines and energy development, voting down six bills that would have taxed or put guard rails on the emerging carbon capture industry.

Rep. Jeremy Olson, R-Arnegard, summarized his opposition to three of the bills by saying, “North Dakota doesn’t need a CO2 sin tax.”

Opponents of the bills voiced support of carbon capture pipelines, in particular for their potential to extend the productivity of North Dakota oil wells through enhanced oil recovery. In enhanced oil recovery, gas is pumped into the well to help force out more oil.

Carbon dioxide pipelines also come with risks, bill supporters noted. Carbon dioxide is a hazardous material and a rupture is potentially fatal.