Republican Senators met for over six hours Friday to privately debate restrictions on the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions Pipeline. They emerged late Friday afternoon and adjourned for the week without taking any public action, leaving pipeline opponents feeling blindsided. Dennis King, a fourth generation farmer from Clay County, expressed disappointment, stating that the bill had easily passed the House with 85 out of 100 possible votes. He criticized the Senate leadership, saying, “They really let us down here today. I mean, come on, we were counting on them to have our backs, you know? It’s frustrating, man.”
A dozen Republican senators have vowed to boycott votes on state spending plans until the senate votes to limit the pipeline company’s authority to seize land for the project. This move has added a new layer of tension to the already heated debate surrounding the pipeline. Cindy Hanson and her sister, who are opposed to having the pipeline on their family’s Century Farm in Shelby County, expressed their concerns about the impact of the project. Cindy emotionally shared, “Since this whole thing started four years ago, we’ve lost 14 landowners who’ve passed away and they don’t even know if their land is safe. It’s just not fair, you know?”
Monte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, was present at the capitol all day, lobbying against any legislation that would hinder the pipeline’s construction. Despite the Senate’s decision to shelve the bill, Shaw remains optimistic, stating, “I mean, it sucks that we didn’t get the vote we wanted, but hey, at least we’re still in the game, right? Gotta look on the bright side, folks.” The ethanol industry also sees the Senate’s action as a victory, as it opens up opportunities for further discussions on the project.
“We’ll sit down with somebody and talk about property rights and some improvements that we think could be made,” Shaw continued. “But hey, we also want to make sure these projects can move forward because they’re super important for Iowa’s future. So yeah, fingers crossed, you know?”
Shaw, accompanied by ethanol plant managers, supportive farmers, and tradesmen, spent the day lobbying at the Capitol on the pipeline issue. The Senate session on Friday began at 9 a.m. and concluded at around 4:30 p.m. During the session, the Senators spent about 56 minutes in public discussion before swiftly voting to confirm three of Governor Kim Reynolds’ appointed individuals to state boards and commissions. Senate Republicans also made changes to a House-passed bill, removing a section that would have prohibited diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at private colleges and universities in Iowa.
The day’s events left many stakeholders in the pipeline debate feeling uncertain about the future. The lack of a public vote and the unexpected turn of events have stirred up mixed emotions among those involved. While some remain hopeful for productive discussions moving forward, others are left questioning the Senate’s decision-making process. Amidst the uncertainty, one thing is clear – the debate over the Summit Carbon Solutions Pipeline is far from over.
