To the Editor:

We are writing this letter regarding the use of eminent domain to obtain land for construction of carbon dioxide pipelines.

Our family has been a long-standing investor in both Glacial Lakes and the Redfield Energy ethanol plants along with many other projects that promote agricultural advancements. As investors in ethanol, we suddenly find ourselves part of a business supporting the use of eminent domain. In a very simplistic, but honest examination of the current situation, we are promoting invading property of landowners against their wishes for the sake of someone else’s profit.

We were raised to be good neighbors, respect people and their property rights, and to value the freedom and liberty we enjoy as Americans, South Dakotans and landowners. All of those things are currently in jeopardy.

We certainly don’t envy the people who serve on the board of directors for the various ethanol plants.

They probably worry about the industry being able to return a profit to investors.

We believe that jeopardizing land owner rights in this manner is a much larger problem than profit.

We are asking the boards of involved ethanol plants to do the right thing, the courageous thing, and protect land owner rights above profits. Minnesota was able to route a carbon pipeline without using eminent domain, South Dakota should be able to do the same.

Currently, we fear for the future of landowner rights. If Summit Carbon uses eminent domain to take property from landowners, what will come next? Jim Suer, Glacial Lake’s CEO stated that “all” their investors are in support. How many investors actually are, when they realize eminent domain is at play in this project? How many farmers have signed easements against their better judgement because they believed they had no power to fight this?

Jay Poindexter
Jennifer Poindexter Runge
Ree Heights