Domina Law Group Managing Lawyer Brian Jorde recently appeared on Dakota News Now for a televised segment about a new hearing schedule for Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed carbon pipeline.
As discussed in a previous blog, the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission voted earlier this month to move an evidentiary hearing in the pipeline permitting process from April to September after Jorde successfully argued that the spring date would conflict with planting and calving season for famers and ranchers. The hearing is an important step in the PUC’s process of determining whether to give Summit a permit for its proposed 2,000-mile pipeline, 500 miles of which would run through South Dakota.
Appearing on Dakota News Now, Brian Jorde discussed how landowners are relieved by the new hearing and still intent on challenging Summit’s proposed pipeline.
Jorde also commented on how he believes that Summit’s request for a hearing in Spring was an intentional attempt to keep farmers and other landowners busy with seasonal preparations from participating. He added that there are still many South Dakotans who are unaware that a pipeline could be on or near their land.
“Approximately 100 persons who are within a half mile of their proposed route, and we’ve got a motion to dismiss their entire application or motion to return on that basis.”
“I’m involved in proximately 70 or so related to claims they have against landowners. It’s probably more, I frankly lost count. And then, of course, they’re suing any county and the commissioners if they don’t like what they’re doing in an intimidation to try to make other counties not take action.”
Apart from voicing their support for the commission’s latest decision to move the hearing, those opposing the pipeline also shared a program for Governor Noem’s inauguration ceremony, where Summit was one of five platinum sponsors for the event. As Jorde told Dakota News Now:
“Well, money in politics, you know, money, money gets you votes. Money gets you laws. I don’t think anyone should think otherwise,” said Jorde. “Summit has endless foreign money from their foreign owners and New York hedge funds and whoever else, so they’re throwing it around and trying to get people to check their common sense at the door, and hopefully, that doesn’t work.”
As more landowners in the region become aware of Summit’s proposed pipeline and the potential impact on their land and property rights, they are turning to Jorde and Domina Law for representation. Jorde and our team will continue to represent landowners’ interests in challenging Summit Carbon Solutions and its attempts to use eminent domain, a right typically reserved for the government and public use projects, to access private property and build its pipeline.
The hearing dates for the evidentiary hearing before the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission are now September 11th through September 22nd. A location is still under consideration.
Watch the full Dakota News Now segment featuring Attorney Brian Jorde here.