DONATE
VOLUNTEER
SUBSCRIBE
On 86-7 vote, Iowa House passes another pipeline-related bill – Radio Iowa

On 86-7 vote, Iowa House passes another pipeline-related bill – Radio Iowa

by | Apr 3, 2024 | Featured

The Iowa House has voted to let landowners seek a court ruling now on whether carbon pipeline developers qualify for the government’s eminent domain authority to force unwilling property owners to let the pipeline on their land.

“We’re faced with lots of choices in this body. Few go to the heart of Iowa the way this does. Land is the original asset in Iowa. It’s in our souls. An unjust taking of land without remedy is not only irritating, it’s outrageous,” Republican Representative Charley Thomson of Charles City said. “Let’s give Iowans a remedy.”

Thomson said right now, property owners are forced to live in limbo for years — waiting for the Iowa Utilities Board decision on the project as well as the resolution of lawsuits expected to challenge that decision.

“That means for that entire period you have these Century Farms, landowners, people who didn’t especially want to have this pipeline going over their land and have some questions about it, not being able to get an answer on their constitutional law question,” Thomson said, “and not being able to sell their land at full value or make a decision on tiling or make a decision on estate planning.”

Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison said Iowa landowners are pleading with elected officials to do the right thing. “For several years I’ve watched, I’ve listened and I’ve been deeply concerned,” Holt said. “I’ve watched landowners fighting to protect their private property rights…and I have been disturbed by that fact that others do not hear their pleas or the truth of their message.”

Representative Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton, was the other lawmaker who spoke before the bill passed on an 86-7 vote. Kaufmann sounded as if he were speaking directly to Bruce Rastetter, the influential GOP donor and pipeline developer who owns Summit Carbon Solutions.

“Most importantly I have a message for those who would choose to attempt to use their money to influence this vote, for those who would attempt to use their money to prevent this vote,” Kaufmann said. “My message is: ‘Take your money and shove it!’”

Kaufmann said government doesn’t exist to make the confiscation of private property easier or cheaper for pipeline developers. The Iowa House has previously passed other proposals to set up pipeline regulations, but all have stalled in the Iowa Senate.

Summit VP says permits denials in Dakotas shouldn’t impact Iowa process – Radio Iowa

Summit VP says permits denials in Dakotas shouldn’t impact Iowa process – Radio Iowa

by | Sep 14, 2023 | Archived

A vice president for Summit Carbon Solutions says rejected requests to build the company’s carbon pipeline in North and South Dakota should not impact its pursuit of a construction permit in Iowa. Micah Rorie is in charge of land acquisition for the company and took the witness stand this morning at an Iowa Utilities Board hearing in Fort Dodge.

“I was asked the question last week about whether I thought we ought to get a permit without other state permits in play,” Rorie said, “to which I responded, ‘Yes, I think we ought to seek a permit in Iowa regardless of what’s going on in other states.’”

John Murray, an attorney for property owners who don’t want the pipeline on their land, quizzed Rorie about yesterday’s permit denial in South Dakota. “We’re confident of our ability to obtain a permit in South Dakota. As far as what we know, I don’t know that there’s any guarantee,” Rorie said.

Murray asked: “So isn’t it possible South Dakota will not grant Summit a permit?”

Rorie responded: “I don’t like to think that way.”

Murray, an attorney from Storm Lake, also asked Rorie about last month’s denial of a permit to extend Summit’s pipeline through North Dakota, where the company plans to store its liquid carbon underground.

“Isn’t it possible that you’re building a pipeline to nowhere?” Murray asked.

Rorie responded: “I don’t see it that way. I don’t think about how things are going in other states as it relates to what we’re needing to get done in Iowa. Yes, if we built a pipeline that didn’t have a terminus, then I guess that would be a pipeline to nowhere, but that’s not the way I see it. The way I see it is certainly the time we’re spending this morning it to see a permit in Iowa and make sure we accomplish all of the criteria to do so.”

Rorie said over 1200 Iowa landowners have voluntarily signed easements that give Summit access to over 3300 parcels of land along its proposed route through Iowa. The company is asking the Iowa Utilities Board for eminent domain authority to force 469 Iowa landowners who object to the project to sign property easements.