U.S. Sen. Grassley Says Grandson, State Legislator, Did Not Seek Advice on Carbon Pipelines
Last month, the then-Iowa Utilities Board, now Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC), approved Summit Carbon Solutions’ initial permit to build a hazardous liquid pipeline through 29 counties, including several in north and northeast Iowa.
That opens the door for Summit to use eminent domain to secure the remaining land for pipeline construction from property owners who did not sign voluntary easements with the company.
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley’s grandson, Pat Grassley, Republican leader of the Iowa House of Representatives, pushed for more restrictions on eminent domain during the legislature earlier this year. Senator Grassley says his grandson never sought his advice.
Grassley stresses that pipeline construction is a state issue, not a federal issue, but it’s action at the federal level that made the project possible, despite his opposition.
Even with permit approval for Summit in Iowa, Grassley notes that several other pieces of the puzzle must come together before any pipeline construction begins.
Sections of Summit’s initially approved “mainline” route will go through Floyd, Chickasaw, Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Kossuth, Grundy, and Franklin counties. Partner ethanol plants include Homeland Energy Solutions near Lawler and Golden Grain Energy near Mason City.
Summit must apply for another permit to add ethanol plants previously associated with the Navigator CO2 Ventures carbon pipeline project, including Valero Renewables near Charles City and Poet Bioprocessing near Shell Rock. They also want to add Absolute Energy near St. Ansgar.
Last week, the IUC approved public hearings for landowners along the add-on pipeline route to start in September.
