CO2 Pipeline Hearings Begin

Tim Baughman, Farmer - Denison, Iowa : “Summit Carbon Solutions wants to take our land for their private profit pipeline scam." 

This week, the Iowa Utilities Board began what is expected to be several weeks of evidentiary hearings. When they are finished, the Board will determine if a construction permit will be granted for the controversial Summit Carbon Solutions CO2 pipeline. Before the hearing began, about 200 landowners and supporters gathered outside the venue in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Tim Baughman, Farmer - Denison, Iowa “Our safety, our land, our lives and livelihoods are more important than Summits for profit bottom line.”

Witnesses were concerned about who would be responsible for soil compaction, damage to drain tile, what they called ambiguous language in easement contracts, and the consequences of a pipeline rupture along the 700 miles of the Iowa portion of the Midwest Carbon Express.

The bulk of those testifying objected to the possibility that Summit will be granted the right to use eminent domain when landowners refuse to sign a voluntary easement. 

Marcia A. Langner, Landowner - Ayrshire Iowa: “The hazardous pipeline, as proposed, could limit future homes , livestock facilities, machine sheds or other building expansions and limit the versatility of our farming and future farming operations.” 

A spokesperson for Summit Carbon, says they have signed easement agreements with 73 percent of the landowners along the 2,000 mile, $5.5 billion underground pipeline that stretches across five states. 

Monte Shaw, Executive Director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, an industry advocacy group, says Summit Carbon is just satisfying the needs of their customers.

Monte Shaw, Executive Director, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association  “We shouldn’t pretend when folks show up here in a lot of red shirts that they speak for the landowners, they speak for a minority of the landowners. A voice that’s theirs to have and that should be heard, I’m not saying they shouldn’t be here, let me be very clear, but they do not represent the vast majority of, the super majority of landowners.”

The Iowa Utilities Board is expecting the testimony to last through the end of September. 

For Market to Market, I’m David Miller