OMAHA, Nebraska – A company that planned to build a carbon pipeline through Iowa and four other states is canceling the project.
Navigator CO2 is blaming “the unpredictable nature of the regulatory and government processes involved, particularly in South Dakota and Iowa.”
“As good stewards of capital and responsible managers of people, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Heartland Greenway project,” says Matt Vining, CEO of Navigator CO2. “We are disappointed that we will not be able to provide services to our customers and thank them for their continued support.”
The proposed 1,300-mile (2,092-kilometer) project would have carried planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions from more than 20 industrial plants across South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois. The company recently withdrew its application for a key permit in Illinois.
“I am proud that throughout this endeavor, our team maintained a collaborative, high integrity, and safety-first approach and we thank them for their tireless efforts,” says Vining. “We also thank all the individuals, trade associations, labor organizations, landowners, and elected officials who supported us and carbon capture in the Midwest.”
Tom Buis, CEO of the American Carbon Alliance, issued the following statement in regard to the news of Navigator CO2 ceasing their pipeline project:
“The decision by Navigator CO2 to cease their carbon capture pipeline project is incredibly disappointing. We know that carbon capture is the future for farmers, rural communities, and our country.
“Just as bioethanol doubled farm income in the last two decades, carbon capture projects are the next step in bringing even more value to farmers nationwide. These projects will create higher corn and land values and bolster our nation’s energy security.”
“The American Carbon Alliance will continue to stand arm-in-arm with the commodity groups, industry leaders, and American farmers to help transform the ag and energy economy through carbon capture technology. This is an opportunity of a lifetime, and we cannot afford to let it slip away.”
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw made the following statement:
“IRFA supports CCS projects as the best way to align ethanol production with the increasing demand for low carbon fuels both at home and abroad. CCS is the essential key to unlocking the 100-billion-gallon sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market for agriculture, in the long term. If realized, the SAF market would trigger the largest rural economic boom since the introduction of corn hybrids. It is not an overstatement to say that decisions made over the next few months will likely place agriculture on one of two paths. One would lead to 1990s stagnation as corn production exceeds demand, and the other opens new market opportunities larger than anything we’ve ever seen before. IRFA will fight for a prosperous farming future.”
“Over the last year, we have been disappointed with the amount of disinformation that has been spread among the public and the regulators across multiple states. That does not happen by accident. Rather, it is being pushed by groups who oppose modern agriculture and whose stated mission is to destroy farming as we know it. While we respect Navigator’s decision, IRFA will continue to support multiple other CCS projects and we expect ultimate success.”
Barb Kalbach, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Board Chair and family farmer from Dexter issued this statement:
“This is a huge victory for Iowans! It’s refreshing to have someone listen to everyday folks. 80% of Iowans don’t want CO2 pipelines, and the reasons to oppose them just keep stacking up – first they take public money, then they come for farmland, now they want our water – all so they can make a buck at our expense. Now we need the Iowa Utilities Board to start listening and deny Summit Carbon Solutions permit. These pipelines are a bad deal, and the IUB has no business approving a permit for Summit, especially without adequate safety regulations.
A spokesperson for Summit Carbon Solutions also issued a comment:
“Summit Carbon Solutions welcomes and is well positioned to add additional plants and communities to our project footprint. We remain as committed to our project as the day we announced it. It’s not often you get the opportunity to positively impact an industry that touches every farmer and rural community across the Midwest. We have reached voluntary agreements along nearly 75% of our proposed route – we are pleased that the vast majority of landowners and farmers across the Midwest embrace the project. We look forward to building a generational asset that will create new markets for the ethanol industry and farmers.”
