A state Representative and pipeline spokesperson debated carbon capture pipelines, sequestration, and eminent domain in a public forum Tuesday.
This comes as the PUC considers Navigator CO2's pipeline application.
The Dacotah Bank Event Center in Brookings was filled with landowners and lawmaker advocates anxious to hear the debate between Rep. Jon Hansen (R) and Navigator CO2’s Vice President of Government and Public Affairs Elizabeth Burns-Thompson.
Hansen is a critic of carbon capture pipelines and sequestration. He said there are other ways to deal with carbon.
“Well sure, absolutely, in fact I think there’s been companies that have come into the state and talked to landowners about production of, I believe it's methanol, is what its called. You can capture the CO2 off of ethanol plants and make methanol. And by the way, that furthers the the industry's interest and purpose of making renewable fuels. And so there are plenty of alternatives," said Hansen. "There is also on-site sequestration options and things of that nature. But, the reality is, those aren’t being funded by the 45Q tax credit, so that’s why those things aren’t happening.”
Hansen also questioned Navigator’s investors, noting 84% of the company is owned by BlackRock.
“It’s a multinational investment company based out of New York City. Our own congressmen recently put out a statement very concerned about the national security risks that Blackrock is engaged in, by investing in blacklisted Chinese companies. Another 14% of Navigator CO2 is owned by a fund out of the United Arab Emirates,” said Hansen.
Burns-Thompson did not comment on Hansen’s outline of Navigator’s ownership. She did, however, defend the value of carbon capture and sequestration.
“Today, we are opening up the opportunity to further crack that kernel and monetize the last remaining piece of that kernel of corn. Right? Cuz we are turning it into alcohol, we’re turning it into dry distiller’s grains, we have the corn oil, and what’s left? That CO2. This type of infrastructure is what is going to ensure that we are now, and I say we, as an ethanol industry, as rural America, as agriculture broadly, are truly able to monetize every piece of that corn kernel," said Burns-Thompson. "But that’s going to take marketplaces and it’s going to take infrastructure.”
Another pipeline company, Summit Carbon Solutions, declined a debate.
