IUB to Hold Logistics Meeting for Summit’s Carbon Pipeline Permit Process

The Iowa Utilities Board has issued a schedule for the permit application process for Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed carbon capture pipeline.

The IUB will hold a technical conference on March 15th at 10 a.m. at its Des Moines office to discuss logistics for the hearing and to help those who want to file opposition or support of the pipeline. The conference will discuss the schedule and provide information about how the IUB envisions the hearing will be conducted. The IUB will not make a decision on whether to approve Summit’s application to build the pipeline during the technical conference, but they will determine specific dates for the hearing will be determined.

Summit is proposing almost 700 miles of pipeline in Iowa. One leg would start with the Homeland Energy Solutions ethanol plant between Lawler and New Hampton and go west through Chickasaw, Floyd and Cerro Gordo counties among others. 

Meanwhile, under a House subcommittee bill, landowners along 90 percent of a pipeline’s route would have to grant voluntary access before developers could get state officials’ permission to seize the rest of the land. Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison is the bill’s lead sponsor.

Jake Ketzner, a lobbyist for Summit Carbon Solutions, says it would be devastating for Iowa economically if the pipelines don’t get built.

Landowners opposing the pipelines rallied on the Iowa Capitol steps earlier this week. 

That’s  Kim Junker, who farms with her husband  near New Hartford and says they’re unwilling to voluntarily let the Heartland Navigator pipeline pass through their property.  Navigator also wants one leg of their carbon pipeline to start with the Valero Renewables ethanol plant near Charles City and build south through Floyd and Butler counties to connect with Poet Bioprocessing near Shell Rock.