A number of proposed CO2 pipelines in the US Midwest are facing growing pushback at the state level,threatening to torpedo themuch-needed construction of key transition infrastructure.The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission on Wednesday voted unanimously to reject a bid by Navigator CO2 for a permit thatwould preempt earlier moves by several counties in the state to block its 1,300-mile Heartland Greenway pipeline,which would serveethanol plants and other facilities in Illinois,Iowa,Minnesota,Nebraska and South Dakota.Leah Mohr,deputy executive director forthe commission,said that a written order to that effect will be fi led later this month.During the 11-day public hearing on the authorization,Navigator offi cials highlighted the company’s history of operating crude oilpipelines in Texas and Oklahoma without safety incidents,and stressed that the company is yet to launch any eminent domainproceedings against landowners.A spokesman for the company said it is still weighing its options.The Heartland Greenway pipeline is one of several proposed projects in the US Midwest that are facing growing public opposition thathas led to lengthy-and presumably costly-showdowns with state regulators that is delaying and potentially halting the buildout ofneeded CO2 infrastructure.
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