Sierra Club Analysis: Carbon Pipeline Would Use 3.3 Billion Gallons of Water Per Year

An analysis released by the Sierra Club and landowners who object to the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions carbon pipeline suggests the project will require drawing well over three BILLION gallons of water from Iowa’s aquifers each year. 

Jess Mazour, conservation coordinator for the Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club, says ethanol plants already use a significant amount of water and the pipeline would be an even bigger drain on Iowa’s water supply.

The Iowa DNR has already granted Summit a permit to withdraw up to 55 million gallons of water each year from a new well near Homeland Energy Solutions ethanol plant between New Hampton and Lawler. Sierra Club attorney Wally Taylor says the DNR has been handing out water use permits like candy, without considering impacts on groundwater resources.

According to federal reports, it takes 10 to 17 liters of water to produce ethanol. More water would be required at each ethanol plant site to cool carbon so it can be compressed, liquified and pushed through a pipeline. 

Summit’s pipeline would sequester carbon from 30 Midwest ethanol plants in Iowa, including Valero Renewables near Charles City, Absolute Energy near St. Ansgar, Golden Grain Energy near Mason City, and Poet Bioprocessing near Shell Rock. 

Last week, the Charles City City Council approved a new agreement with Valero to up their water usage from 420 million gallons to 470 million gallons. The company says the increased water consumption coincides with an increase in its annual ethanol production.