(a legislator hugs activist Kathy Stockdale–Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
After four years of intense debate and legislative fighting, a bill was passed this week by the Iowa legislature to pull the reins in on carbon sequestration pipelines and the ability of operators to use eminent domain. It could be another stumbling block for Summit Carbon Solutions.
The bill, passed by the Iowa State senate on a 27-22 vote, was sent to the governor. Its creation came as opposition mounted to the use of eminent domain by the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline.
The decision follows four years of Iowans and House lawmakers urging for eminent domain reform in response to the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline. House File 639 came about after landowners traveled to the capitol over the past four years to voice their opposition to the pipeline.
Summit Carbon Solutions proposed the project to capture carbon dioxide from ethanol plants across Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota and contain it in underground storage in North Dakota. In a related case, a North Dakota Judge ruled this week to allow North Dakota landowners’ lawsuit challenging state regulators’ permit for the Summit carbon pipeline to move forward.
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