Bill on Pipelines, Landowner Rights Headed to Governor, NEIA Legislator Fears Lawsuit
The Iowa Senate has passed a bill with new guardrails that would make it harder for companies to seize property for carbon pipelines and other energy-related infrastructure.
Senator Jeff Taylor of Sioux Center is among 12 Republicans (including Doug Campbell of Mason City and Sandy Salmon of Janesville) who boycotted votes on the state budget in order to force a vote on the bill, which also requires more insurance for carbon pipelines.
Some of the Republicans who voted against the bill said they support private property rights, but they accused Republicans who voted for it of being stubborn, naive and inexperienced. Northeast Iowa Republican Senator Mike Klemish of Spillville predicts that if the bill becomes law, the State of Iowa will be sued by Summit and landowners who signed contracts to allow the pipeline on their properties.
Senator Tony Bisignano of Des Moines defended the dozen Republicans AND fellow Democrats who struck a bipartisan deal to get the bill passed.
Senator Dan Zumbach, a Republican from Ryan, says the bill will kill the Summit pipeline project.
The bill now goes to Governor Kim Reynolds, who has the power to sign or veto it.
*Radio Iowa contributed to this story
