Legislators, counties, conservation groups and landowners, including several involving North Iowans, have asked state regulators to reconsider their permit approval for an expansive carbon dioxide pipeline system in Iowa.
A total of eight requests were filed with the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) by procedural deadline on Monday (07.15), and are likely precursors to lawsuits in state court.
Last month, the IUC approved a proposal by Summit Carbon Solutions to construct about 690 miles of pipe in Iowa to transport captured carbon dioxide from ethanol plants. The company has already sought to expand its footprint by more than 300 miles to connect to more of the facilities.
Included among those filing reconsideration requests:
— Republican Legislative Intervenors for Justice, a group of 26 state representatives and 11 state senators who oppose the use of eminent domain for the project, led by State Representative Charley Thomson of Charles City.
— Tim Whipple, an attorney who represents Dickinson, Emmet, Floyd, Kossuth, Shelby, Woodbury and Wright counties.
— Hardin County has also filed a request
Opposition to the use of eminent domain — in which Summit will be able to force unwilling landowners to host its pipeline network — is a common thread of the objections. The group of Republican lawmakers further said the IUC’s process precluded input from many people who might be affected by the project, including those who live close enough to the pipeline route to be threatened by a potential pipeline breach, but far enough away to not be in the pipeline’s direct path.
The three-member IUC has 30 days to respond to the requests, after which the groups can take their objections to court.
A Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll last year showed that 78% of Iowans oppose the pipeline.
Read more with this story from the Iowa Capital Dispatch
Complete list of reconsideration requests:
— Sierra Club of Iowa, a conservation group that has been key to organizing opposition to the project
— Republican Legislative Intervenors for Justice, a group of 26 state representatives and 11 state senators who oppose the use of eminent domain for the project, led by State Representative Charley Thomson of Charles City
— Brian Jorde, an attorney who is the leading representative of affected landowners who oppose the project
— Tim Whipple, an attorney who represents Dickinson, Emmet, Floyd, Kossuth, Shelby, Woodbury and Wright counties
— Hardin County
— Gordon Garrison, a landowner in Emmet County
— Gregory and Erica Kracht, landowners in Lyon County
— Bold Iowa, which was originally formed to oppose the Dakota Access oil pipeline. It advocates for climate change solutions and opposes eminent domain for the pipelines
