SD Ag Alliance releases poll showing support for carbon pipelines when landowner protections and additional compensation are included

FEBRUARY 15, 2024:

The South Dakota Ag Alliance released poll results (Feb. 6, 2024) showing 55% of Republican primary voters support carbon capture pipelines when landowners are given further protections and additional compensation. 22% said no and 23% were undecided.

The poll was conducted by co/efficient, a national research and analytics company that has done work in all 50 states. The poll was commissioned by the SD Ag Alliance, a nonprofit organization, and included 1,017 likely Republican Primary voters. It was conducted Jan. 30-31, 2024, using mobile text message responses and landline phone interviews. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.06%.

Ag Alliance founding member Jason Glodt says a “super majority of all landowners along the pipeline route already support the project.” He says a majority of Republican voters in the state also support the project, so long as the legislature passes landowner protections and provides additional compensation.

The SD Ag Alliance is supporting a legislative package comprised of three bills– Senate Bill 201 and House Bills 1185 and 1186– that provide protections for landowners, funding for counties and regulatory certainty for businesses.

Infographic courtesy of the South Dakota Ag Alliance.

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FEBRUARY 3, 2024:

Senate Majority Leader Casey Crabtree and House Majority Leader Will Mortenson have announced a “Good Neighbor” legislative package that will establish protections for landowners and funding for counties.

“The SD Ag Alliance supports the legislative package because it creates significant protections for landowners,” said Rob Skjonsberg, founding member. “Like any significant proposal, details will continue to be worked out. Senator Crabtree and Representative Mortenson are to be commended for tackling such an important issue.”

“The legislative package is good for landowners and creates regulatory certainty for pipelines which is a win-win for South Dakota,” said Jason Glodt, founding member.

The legislative package is comprised of three bills (Senate Bill 201 and House Bills 1185 and 1186) and provides protections for landowners, funding for counties and regulatory certainty for businesses.

Protections for Landowners: The legislative package established protections for landowners, including 1) land survey reform; 2) liability protection; 3) minimum depth of carbon-capture pipelines of four feet; 4) lifetime repair of drain-tile, 5) release of dispersion models; and 6) additional compensation for landowners.

Funding for Counties and Townships: The legislative package also includes funding for counties and townships, including funds to maintain roads. The legislation will also create an extraordinary expenses fund which will be paid for by carbon pipelines. The state, counties, and townships will be able to access the funds to cover costs incurred for emergency response training and to purchase equipment.

Open for Business: In addition, the legislation will keep South Dakota open for business by creating legal and regulatory certainty for businesses.