Summit Carbon Solutions is partnering with 32 ethanol plants across the Midwest, including seven in South Dakota, with the intent to construct a pipeline that will transport liquid carbon dioxide to underground storage in North Dakota.
According to a new survey of registered voters in the 18 counties the pipeline would cross, a broad majority of South Dakotans support the ethanol industry and believe it is critical to the future of agriculture, the health of the state’s economy and improving environmental outcomes.
The proposed carbon capture and storage project would help the 32 ethanol plants– one of which is Ringneck Energy at Onida– realize a 30-point drop in the carbon intensity score of the ethanol they produce. It would also allow those plants access the growing number of markets that pay a premium to purchase low carbon fuels.
Key findings of the survey along with a partisan breakdown of the results are as follows:
-
94% of those surveyed believe the ethanol industry is important for South Dakota farmers and the state’s agricultural industry.
-
Republican: 97%
-
No Party: 90%
-
Democrat: 94%
-
-
88% of respondents believe the ethanol industry is important for the state’s economy.
-
Republican: 90%
-
No Party: 86%
-
Democrat: 89%
-
-
74% of those surveyed believe ethanol is good for the environment.
-
Republican: 79%
-
No Party: 59%
-
Democrat: 82%
-
-
88% of respondents believe the ethanol industry has a positive impact on the state of South Dakota.
-
Republican: 92%
-
No Party: 83%
-
Democrat: 86%
-
Robert Blizzard of Public Opinion Strategies conducted the poll by surveying 500 registered voters in 18 counties where Summit Carbon Solutions is proposed to operate in South Dakota using a mix of cell phone and landline interviewing. The poll was conducted from April 23 to April 25, 2022, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.38%.
Image credit Summit Carbon Solutions.
Comments