Alright, so like, the big boss at an ethanol plant near Council Bluffs is all worked up about this bill that’s gonna slap some new rules on the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline in Iowa. Mike Jerke, the top dog at Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE), spilled the tea during a virtual press conference organized by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. According to him, SIRE is all set to expand their operation, but it all hinges on being able to stash away CO2 and the demand that comes with it.
Jerke spilled the beans that a snazzy 400-mile natural gas pipeline in Nebraska is getting a makeover to start snagging carbon from ethanol plants come autumn. He spilled the tea that his ethanol joint is gearing up to tuck away carbon by mid-2026 and hook up with the Tallgrass Trailblazer pipeline in Nebraska. “We’ve got all the permissions needed for our project,” Jerke blurted out. “We’ve got ’em locked in.”
But here’s the kicker – the bill is demanding some kind of insurance that would breach the permit his company is gunning for, and the part about only being able to operate a liquid carbon dioxide pipeline for 25 years? Jerke’s calling it a total bummer. His company already inked deals worth a cool $45 million to snag the gear needed for carbon storage. “We’ve probably spent a bit over half of that since buying equipment takes time and construction is on track for autumn,” Jerke spilled. “Seems like if this bill goes through, we’ll be stuck with a 25-year limit… not exactly a walk in the park, if you catch my drift.”
Governor Reynolds has until mid-June to give the thumbs up or down on the bill. Folks who aren’t fans of the Summit Carbon Solutions project are cheering on the bill, saying it’s been a four-year-long struggle to protect their private property rights. They’re pushing lawmakers to straight up ban the use of eminent domain to snatch up land for carbon pipelines. So, yeah, things are heating up, and the clock is ticking for the big decision.
