Liberty Rising: The Plan to End Property May 10th 4pm

Summit Carbon Pipeline

🎉 Celebrating Victory: Summit Carbon Pipeline Permit Denied in South Dakota

🏛️ SEAL SD Cheers a Win for Property Rights

At SealSD.com, we’re celebrating a major victory for South Dakotans! On April 22, 2025, the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) denied Summit Carbon Solutions’ permit application for their $8.9 billion carbon capture pipeline, a project that threatened property rights through eminent domain. This win aligns with our mission through the Core GRT Plan—part of the Maximum Liberty Plan (Plan 2)—which replaces all state taxes with a single 5% Gross Receipts Tax (GRT), generating $3.6 billion and saving you $3,000–$5,000 annually by eliminating property taxes. Summit’s pipeline would have crossed private lands, often against owners’ wishes, but South Dakota’s recent ban on eminent domain for such projects has given landowners a powerful voice. This page celebrates this milestone, explores its implications for property rights, and underscores the importance of secure elections to protect future victories like this one, building on our prior discussions (Page 43: Deep Dive: The Founding Fathers on Property Rights, Freedom, and Eminent Domain; Page 35: Election Integrity and the Core GRT Plan).

🏆 A Victory for South Dakotans: Summit’s Permit Denied

On April 22, 2025, the South Dakota PUC voted 2-1 to deny Summit Carbon Solutions’ route permit application for their carbon capture pipeline, a decision that’s a temporary triumph for landowners and property rights advocates [Web ID: 0]. The $8.9 billion project aimed to transport carbon dioxide from ethanol plants across five states to underground storage in North Dakota, but South Dakota’s new law banning eminent domain for such pipelines posed a significant barrier (Web ID: 0, Web ID: 13). Commissioner Kristie Fiegen cited an “incomplete” application lacking “the form and content required,” and Summit has been directed to rework its route to satisfy landowners (Web ID: 0). Governor Larry Rhoden, who signed the eminent domain ban in March 2025, called this an “opportunity to reset,” emphasizing his decision was based on what’s best for South Dakota (Web ID: 13). For now, we’re celebrating this win, as it protects South Dakotans from forced land seizures that Summit had relied on to survey and access properties (Web ID: 2).

Analogy for Clarity: Summit wanted to bulldoze through your picnic tent for their picnic pipe, but South Dakota said “No!”—thanks to our picnic eminent domain ban, your picnic tent stays safe, and we’re throwing a picnic party to celebrate!

🏡 Protecting Property Rights: A Core GRT Plan Principle

This victory aligns with the Core GRT Plan’s mission to protect property rights, a principle the Founding Fathers viewed as essential to freedom, arguing there can be “no liberty” without secure property (Page 43: Deep Dive: The Founding Fathers on Property Rights, Freedom, and Eminent Domain):

  • Eminent Domain Threat: Summit’s pipeline relied on eminent domain to access land from unwilling owners, a practice the Founders opposed due to its potential for abuse, as seen in modern cases like Kelo v. City of New London (2005), where homes were seized for private development (Page 43: Deep Dive: The Founding Fathers on Property Rights, Freedom, and Eminent Domain). South Dakota’s ban, signed into law in March 2025, echoes this skepticism, ensuring landowners aren’t forced to surrender their property (Web ID: 13).
  • Core GRT Plan Synergy: The Core GRT Plan eliminates property taxes, saving $1.6 billion state-wide and removing a financial burden that threatens property rights by risking foreclosure (Page 10: How It Affects the Average Homeowner). This financial freedom strengthens your ability to resist eminent domain, as you’re less likely to be pressured into selling due to tax debts, aligning with the Founders’ vision of property as a cornerstone of liberty (April 2, 2025, 16:49).
  • Landowner Empowerment: The PUC’s denial, influenced by declarations from dozens of landowners refusing access, shows the power of community resistance (Web ID: 2). This mirrors the Core GRT Plan’s citizen-driven approach, requiring 35,017 signatures by May 5, 2026, to make the November 2026 ballot (Page 14: Constitutional Amendment).

Analogy for Clarity: Summit tried to take your picnic tent with a picnic eminent domain trick, but picnic friends said “No way!”—the Core GRT Plan clears $1.6 billion in picnic fees, so you can keep your tent and stand strong, just like the Founders wanted!

🗳️ Secure Elections: Protecting Future Victories

This victory underscores the importance of secure elections to ensure South Dakotans’ voices are heard, especially as we approach the Core GRT Plan’s 2026 ballot initiative, where similar opposition from power brokers may arise:

  • Threats from Power Brokers: Summit’s project, backed by out-of-state interests, faced opposition due to eminent domain concerns, but power brokers will likely target the Core GRT Plan with disinformation, as they’ve done with other initiatives (Page 36: The Disinformation Machine). Secure elections ensure these tactics don’t undermine your vote for tax freedom (Page 37: GRT Truth: Busting the Myths About School Funding, First Responders, and More).
  • Blockchain Voting Potential: A blockchain voting system could provide truly secure voting, ensuring your vote for the Core GRT Plan is protected from fraud or interference, as we’ve explored (Page 40: Deep Dive: Blockchain Voting Systems for Secure Elections). This transparency can restore confidence in government, preventing unnecessary issues like those Summit faced with legal challenges (Web ID: 2).
  • Community Power: The PUC’s decision reflects the power of South Dakotans uniting, much like the 22,400 views and 170 followers gained after the Liberty Forum on April 19, 2025 (Page 22: Thank You to Liberty Forum Attendees). Secure elections will ensure this momentum carries forward to the 2026 vote, protecting your property rights from future threats (Page 35: Election Integrity and the Core GRT Plan).

Analogy for Clarity: This picnic win shows picnic friends can stop sneaky picnic planners, but we need a safe picnic vote box—like a blockchain picnic ledger—to make sure your picnic vote for a free picnic counts, keeping picnic tents safe in 2026!

💡 Why It Matters: A Step Toward Freedom

The denial of Summit Carbon Solutions’ permit on April 22, 2025, is a cause for celebration, as it protects South Dakotans’ property rights from the overreach of eminent domain, a practice the Founding Fathers opposed (Page 43: Deep Dive: The Founding Fathers on Property Rights, Freedom, and Eminent Domain). This victory aligns with the Core GRT Plan’s mission to eliminate property taxes, saving $1.6 billion state-wide and ensuring you can keep your home without financial coercion, upholding the Founders’ belief that there’s “no liberty” without secure property. As we look to the November 2026 ballot, secure elections—whether through blockchain voting or other measures—will be critical to protect your voice against power brokers who may oppose tax freedom (Page 40: Deep Dive: Blockchain Voting Systems for Secure Elections). This win is a step toward a South Dakota where property rights and individual liberty are fiercely defended, free from the control of oppressive government policies.

Analogy for Clarity: We’re cheering because picnic planners can’t take your picnic tent for their picnic pipe—the Core GRT Plan clears $1.6 billion in picnic fees, and a safe picnic vote will keep your picnic tent free in 2026, honoring the Founders’ picnic freedom dream!

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📅 Freedom Feast — May 10, 2025 | 4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
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