Floyd County Supervisors to Seek More Public Input on Carbon Pipeline

The Floyd County Board of Supervisors has discussed the possibility of carbon pipelines coming through the county, but has not taken an official stance either for or against the projects.

Summit Carbon Solutions recently filed for a permit with the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) to build their “Midwest Carbon Express” pipeline, asking the IUB to employ eminent domain to force easements with property owners who did not voluntarily enter into easement agreements with the company. 

A decision isn’t expected soon and even though the IUB has held the required public hearings on behalf of Summit’s application, Floyd County Supervisor Linda Tjaden said during their regular board meeting Monday that she’d like to give property owners one last chance to offer their input to county officials.

Discussion and possible action on an official stance on the carbon pipelines is likely to be on the agenda for the February 14th supervisors meeting. Chair Doug Kamm offered a reminder that for public comments to become official, they must be filed online with the IUB.

Summit is proposing their easternmost starting point for their pipeline to be the Homeland Energy Solutions ethanol plant between New Hampton and Lawler. A second company, Navigator CO2 Ventures, is also targeting Floyd County with the Valero Renewables ethanol plant west of Charles City as one of the origination points for their Heartland Greenway pipeline.

Boards of supervisors in half of the 30 Iowa counties affected by the carbon pipelines have passed motions or resolutions against the projects, including Franklin, Wright and Hancock counties. The Mason City Chamber of Commerce has filed comments in favor of the pipelines.