To the Editor:

Citizens need to get on agendas at every County Commission meeting and ask them to enact moratoriums until they can draft ordinances routing CO2 pipelines. We deserve reasonable protection from the CO2 pipelines. Summit Carbon Solutions is a private for-profit company formed to take advantage of massive lucrative 45Q Federal tax credits. They plan the longest CO2 pipeline constructed in the U.S, only taking CO2 from ethanol plants. They do not take CO2 from any other sources that do exis, only from the plants, where it is currently being injected into the steam during the cook-off process.

SCS will be applying to the DANR for permits to take millions of gallons of water from the aquifer to cool their pumps. This will affect many farms, ranches, and small towns that rely on this water source for domestic use.

Spink, Brown, and McPherson County Commissioners have done an outstanding job of protecting their citizens by passing ordinances that route this hazardous pipeline. Counties have not been swayed by the taxes this pipeline could possibly generate and further commissioner enticement of “grant money” to be used for anything; this would be quid pro quo to ascertain affirmative support. The number of times SCS has kept coming back is almost to the point of harassment.

SCS personnel are currently out in northern Spink and southern Brown, seeking easements and planning four different possible routes. The easements are paying 20% up front with the other 80% being paid once the pipeline has been built

When SCS re-files with the SD PUC for a new permit, possibly before the end of 2023, it is very important for citizens to attend the PUC meetings and comment. Once you sign, you have given up your rights to the land. How will this affect my family, business, livestock?

Jamie Fisk
Tulare