Analysis: Did Election Day mark success for pipeline or weakness of Democratic Party?

As Summit Carbon Solutions announces new easements, opposition candidate Jeff Barth falls

Ringneck Ethanol Power Plant President and CEO Walt Wendland discusses the ethanol production process during a tour of the Onida facility, which intends to pump the carbon it produces through a planned pipeline. (Joe Sneve / The Dakota Scout)

Summit Carbon Solutions last week announced it has now obtained voluntary access to more than 50 percent of the land on its proposed pipeline route, which runs through 18 South Dakota counties.

The announcement comes in the wake of the recent defeat of Democrat Jeff Barth, who based his Public Utilities Commission bid on opposition to the project.

Taken together, those two facts could signal rising support for the project.

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