IUC Proposing Hearings on Carbon Pipeline Involving Floyd County

The Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) Monday (Sept. 14) proposed hearings next February and March to decide whether to grant two pipeline permits to S-C-S Carbon Transport, one of which would involve Floyd County. 

The two proposed pipelines would connect POET Bioprocessing in Ida County and Valero Renewables in Floyd County to Summit Carbon Solutions larger pipeline network, which faces legal hurdles and has not been built. 

S-C-S attorney, Brant Leonard, asked for a shorter timeline.

Pipeline opponents like Deborah Main said the hearings should not be set unless the first phase of the project moves forward.

Summit’s project was largely blocked in South Dakota and the first phase has not yet been built in Iowa with court appeals pending. Landowners like Terry Beek said they feel like the process is being rushed.

The Iowa Corn Growers Association and Iowa Renewable Fuels Association joined S-C-S in asking for hearings to be set mid-December, though no formal hearings have been set. 

As for Summit’ s pipeline project, the company announced in May that they were dropping the addition of the Absolute Energy ethanol plant near Saint Ansgar from their Phase 2 permit application, which in turn reduces the mileage of the pipeline coming into Floyd County from the north. Still, a branch of Summit’s main line, starting with the Homeland Energy Solutions ethanol plant near Lawler, would cross Floyd County from east to west.