South Dakota voters appear to have rejected Referred Law 21, a measure regulating carbon dioxide pipelines.
The vote on Referred Law 21 stood at 40% in favor, 60% against with roughly 90% of votes counted as of 7 a.m. Wednesday.
Lawmakers passed the bill as Senate Bill 201 last session, but opponents concerned over landowner rights got enough signatures to refer it to the ballot.
The bill included the so-called “Landowner Bill of Rights” which proponents say would have offered protections for landowners throughout the state. They also say a carbon pipeline would have brought new income.
Opponents say the bill would have violated the property rights of South Dakotans. They also argued it gave too much power to companies building a potential pipeline.
Summit Carbon Solutions – the company behind a major proposed carbon pipeline – previously said they plan to reapply with the PUC regardless of the results of this vote.
