Summit Carbon Solutions is filing a lawsuit to prevent what it believes is a conflict of interest in an upcoming review with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission.
Summit is suing to block PUC commissioner Kristie Fiegen from taking part in the case.
It centers around a proposed carbon sequestration pipeline Summit wants to build across the state.
Fiegen has a family member who owns land along the path of the pipeline. Summit says this creates a conflict of interest.
The company previously tried and failed to get PUC approval for the project in 2023. Fiegen recused herself from that review. This time, Fiegen is refusing to recuse herself, saying she does not have a legal conflict.
Summit’s lawsuit says Fiegen’s involvement risks delays and creates quote “unnecessary uncertainty.”