Summit Sold Its Midwest Pipeline as a Carbon Solution. Now, It’ll Be Used for Fossil Fuels.
Why it matters: A major carbon pipeline project is now slated to boost fossil fuel production, not just cut emissions.
- Summit Carbon Solutions originally pitched its "Midwest Carbon Express" pipeline as a climate solution for underground CO2 sequestration and to create lower-carbon fuel markets for ethanol.
- The company has now shifted its focus to enhanced oil recovery (EOR), injecting CO2 to extract more oil and gas, a move that directly contradicts its earlier claims against EOR.
- Opponents like the Sierra Club criticize Summit's pivot, arguing the company will say "whatever’s convenient for them in the moment" to advance the project.
- Summit has not responded to requests for comment regarding this significant change in project scope and purpose.
Summit Carbon Solutions, initially promoting a Midwest pipeline for carbon sequestration to reduce emissions and boost the ethanol market, has controversially pivoted to using it for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), a method that increases fossil fuel extraction. This shift, occurring amid permitting delays and property rights battles, aligns the project with "drill, baby, drill" policies, drawing criticism from environmental groups who accuse Summit of opportunism.
