Antelope, Holt county officials hear details about proposed carbon pipeline

Details about a proposed pipeline that would push carbon dioxide from ethanol plants in Nebraska and surrounding states to North Dakota were presented to county officials during December meetings in Antelope and Holt counties.

Dayton Murty, representing Summit Carbon Solutions, an Ames, Iowa-based company, provided on overview of the pipeline and outlined environmental and economic benefits, to Antelope County Commissioners on Dec. 7 and Dec. 30, to Holt County Supervisors.

If the pipeline is constructed, it will pass through Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and the Dakotas, while connecting 31 ethanol plants along the route. Approximately 12 million metric tons of carbon emissions - the equivalent of removing more than 2.5 million cars from the road - from those plants would be captured annually, deposited in the pipeline and pushed to North Dakota, where the gas would be injected into the ground, one mile beneath the earth's surface.

"Pipeline transport is safest for CO2," Murty said, acknowledging the proposed pipeline would reduce greenhouse gases.

By allowing for carbon capture, ethanol plants are "cutting carbon intensity in half," Murty said, as plants lower their carbon intensity score while, at the same time, increasing the value of ethanol.

By lowering carbon fuel standards, ethanol plants will be able to offer "a low carbon fuel for the future," Murty said.

Proposed construction costs are estimated at $4.5 billion for the 2,000-mile pipeline.

Six Nebraska ethanol plants, including Green Plains, Inc., facilities in Atkinson, Wood River,

Central City and York, Husker Ag, LLC, near Plainview and Louis Dreyfus, in Norfolk, have signed on to the project, according to Murty.

The preliminary route through Holt County covers 36.88 miles, or approximately 224 acres. The "anticipated" four-inch pipeline will cross Antelope County diagonally, north of Orchard, before entering Pierce County, where a branch will venture northeast to Husker Ag, or continue its trajectory to Norfolk.

Pipeline diameters in other areas of the state are anticipated to be six or eight inches, based on an overview map provided by Summit Carbon Solutions.

Company officials estimate the pipeline would create between 14,000 and 17,000 jobs during construction.

Only 350 to 450 full-time positions will remain once construction is completed.

Summit Carbon officials report that will work with residents to come to an agreement that will benefit landowners and the company.

Murty said land agents have been assigned to each landowner along the route.

"We will negotiate easements that provide fair market value on land and will offer 100% of the fee value for easement."

Summit Carbon will pay landowners 100% for crop loss in the first year; 80% in the second year and 60% in year three.

"Those figures will be based on a three-year annual yield," Murty said.

When questioned if the company intends to use eminent domain, if landowners do not sign an easement, Murty said, "Our goal is not to use eminent domain."

The company's timeline includes securing landowner permission to survey in 2022. Easements are expected to be in place in 2023, with construction targeted to begin 2024.

Holt County Supervisor Don Butterfield asked about easement width. Murty said the perpetual easements will be 50 feet. A permit for the pipeline, when approved, will be in effect for 25 years.

"We hope to reapply and keep it going for as long as its safe," Murty said.

Butterfield asked if landowners will get back the easement if the pipeline would be decommissioned.

"It's perpetual, but we will discuss that with landowners," Murty said.