LAKE PRESTON, SD (KELO.com) — It has been touted as the largest business development proposal in South Dakota history. A billion-dollar Sustainable Aviation Fuel project is being proposed for the Lake Preston area by GEVO – a Colorado company involved in renewable chemicals and biofuels. GEVO has contributed to the effort to defeat an expected ballot referendum on Senate Bill 201…passed by this year’s legislature to make way for a carbon capture pipeline to pass through the state. Pipeline opponents like Ed Fischbach say the GEVO project is another carrot being dangled in front of voters.
Petitions to refer SB 201 to the November ballot have been turned in, but so far the Secretary of State’s office hasn’t ruled if there were enough signatures to place it on the ballot. That bill, referred to by supporters as the “Landowners Bill of Rights”, will remain on hold at least until the Secretary of State determines if it will be on the ballot, and if it is, until after the election. Outgoing state Representative J-D Wangness of Miller says that probably means Summit Carbon Solutions won’t submit a new pipeline application until after it’s resolved.
Summit is also still waiting for the North Dakota Public Service Commission to decide on its permit application. Iowa recently approved Summit’s application on the condition it’s also approved by the Dakotas.
Comments