A bill that could limit a carbon pipeline company’s power to snatch up private property along its route is up for debate in the Iowa Senate today. Dozens of Iowans who are feeling the heat from the project have made the trek to the Capitol to try and sway the legislators. Nathan Hohnstein from the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, one of the many pipeline supporters rocking blue shirts at the Capitol, believes that the carbon pipeline is the saving grace for the struggling ag industry.
“Honestly, there ain’t much out there besides year-round E15 and sustainable aviation fuel that needs ethanol to reduce their carbon footprint,” Hohnstein stated. “It doesn’t really matter what anyone thinks, the market rules and our members gotta follow suit.”
Cathy Stevens is fighting for her 101-year-old grandpa who is dead-set against having the pipeline on his land in Hardin County, near Buckeye. “I’m gonna do whatever it takes to stop this ’cause it’s risky and it’s snatching people’s land. It’s freaky and I reckon these folks are just plain greedy. They’re taking what rightfully belongs to us,” said Stevens, who recently joined the anti-pipeline advocates who have been lobbying at the Capitol for ages.
Last year, the Iowa Utilities Commission gave the company the green light to use eminent domain to grab land from those who refused to sign contracts allowing the pipeline on their property. However, Summit needs permits from other states along the pipeline route before they can start building in Iowa. A brand spankin’ new law in South Dakota prohibits the use of eminent domain for the pipeline project in that state.
Hohnstein mentioned that a carbon capture pipeline will soon be up and running in Nebraska, and there’s also plans for a sustainable aviation fuel plant in the works there too. “Iowa has always been the hotspot for ethanol,” Hohnstein noted, “and there’s a chance we might lose that title as the prime spot for ethanol and corn production.”
Stevens, one of the many pipeline foes sporting red shirts at the Capitol today, believes that her grandpa’s property rights are in jeopardy. “No eminent domain. No carbon pipeline. No tax breaks for the pipeline,” she declared. “Keep your mitts off our land. Keep your noses out of our families. Just be decent human beings.”
The Senate kicked off at 9 a.m., but the senators got caught up in private powwows for hours to chat about what to do next and finally started debating at 2:30 p.m. — but on a whole other bill. A bunch of Republican senators are saying they won’t vote on state budget plans until the Senate tackles the bill to limit eminent domain use for the pipeline.
