Iowa Farmers, Landowners Share CO2 Pipeline Concerns with Sen. Grassley

A bipartisan cohort of more than 30 Iowa landowners and farmers met with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley this week to express their frustration with Summit Carbon Solution’s proposed carbon pipeline. 

The group says, “The hazardous liquid pipeline would traverse over 1,000 miles of Iowa farmland and require the use of eminent domain for nearly 1,000 properties. The project is only viable due to government subsidies available to the carbon capture industry and urged Senator Grassley to abolish a key subsidy known as the 45Q tax credit.”

The group adds that Grassley “can influence a change in policy to end incentives that encourage the construction of unnecessary carbon pipelines. Senator Grassley has the ability to protect the land and livelihoods of Iowa farmers by recommending 45Q be cut during the budget reconciliation process currently taking place.”

During Monday’s (02.11) meeting, Bremer County farmer, Ted Junker, told Grassley, “Republicans, Democrats, Independents, we’ve all come together to fight this carbon capture scam. Nearly 80% of Iowans are opposed to using eminent domain for carbon pipelines. This isn’t a red or blue issue. It’s a common sense issue. Destroying our cropland is not how we support agriculture. Allowing a company to monopolize the ethanol industry is not how we support agriculture.”

The group says Grassley did not provide a firm position on the request and that Impacted constituents hope to follow up with the senator when they are in Washington, D.C. next month.

Sections of Summit’s proposed carbon pipeline would be built through Chickasaw, Floyd, Butler, Bremer, Fayette, Franklin, Cerro Gordo and Mitchell counties among others.