Oil pipeline experience proves need for caution with carbon pipelines

A sign opposing carbon dioxide pipelines stands along Interstate 90 in February 2023 in South Dakota, near the Minnesota border. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)

My husband and I take our corn to Poet near our home, and we purchase ethanol-blended gasoline. I don’t have millions of dollars to purchase large advertisements for my thoughts, but I would like to share just a small part of my experience with the Dakota Access Pipeline for crude oil that crosses my Minnehaha County property.

The north edge of the property runs along state Highway 38. I had numerous folks who wanted to purchase the land there to put up a home or a shed. I continually turned down the opportunities to sell as I wanted to keep the land available for myself or my family to build in the prime area.

If a building were placed there, it would have meant a higher and forever tax paid on the property. However, in 2016, an oil pipeline was built on my property. I can no longer build on that land. Even if I wanted to build just off the easement area, I would not because of the threat of a leak.

The oil company has already had to do a maintenance dig on my property only to find oil on the outside of the pipe before repairs were completed. The leaked oil remains in the ground. Please note that the oil company is taxed on the pipe in the ground but as the pipe depreciates, the tax gets less.

Now I would like you to imagine this happening to property owners across the state if a carbon dioxide pipeline comes through . Developments, building and expansions by private property owners will be halted. Those increased taxes will never happen. Temporary income from a private company will eventually end. Expenses for the townships, counties and state will continue.

And if your town is worthy, according to pipeline companies such as Dakota Access, you may get a new baseball stadium, which will only be a monument reminding the local folks of the damaged field drain tiles, livestock damages, soil issues, damaged roads, fear of a possible leak, affected physical and mental health, and so much more. Please also consider the amount of water and electricity that a carbon pipeline would require.

As government officials make decisions for the taxpayers and citizens of their township, county and state, they should do their own homework. And remember that South Dakota is a great state to live in. Let’s keep it that way.

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