Pipeline of Trust: Summit’s Bold Play to Win the Midwest

Summit launches a September 2025 partnership program to reduce opposition and speed permits

23 Sep 2025

Summit Carbon Solutions has launched a new initiative to win support from landowners and local governments for its proposed Midwest carbon pipeline, after facing years of legal and regulatory setbacks.

The $5bn project aims to link 57 ethanol plants across five states to underground carbon storage sites in North Dakota, creating one of the world’s largest carbon capture networks. But the company has encountered resistance in South Dakota, where regulators have twice rejected permit applications and lawmakers have restricted the use of eminent domain, requiring voluntary easements. The state’s supreme court has also limited the company’s ability to survey private land.

In September, Summit announced what it calls a Community and Landowner Partnership Program. In formal letters, the company pledged higher compensation for easements, flexible payment options, and grants for emergency services and local projects. It also said counties could benefit from millions in tax revenue once the pipeline is operational.

“Without landowner alignment, projects of this scale simply cannot move forward,” a Summit spokesperson said.

Industry analysts view the programme as part of a wider effort by infrastructure developers to reduce opposition by prioritising community engagement alongside technical planning. Whether this approach will help Summit overcome entrenched opposition remains uncertain.

Many landowners remain sceptical, arguing that no financial incentives can mitigate safety concerns around transporting carbon dioxide. Others say the issue reflects broader disputes over property rights and rural land use.

If Summit’s strategy succeeds, it could accelerate US carbon capture projects and provide a template for how energy infrastructure companies build trust with local communities. For now, the company must still secure permits across several states before construction can begin.