About 100 people attended an over two-hour public informational meeting in Jefferson about a new proposed pipeline that would offload carbon dioxide in the state.

Summit Carbon Solutions was established in 2020 by parent company Summit Agriculture Group in Alden. Summit Carbon Solutions is proposing a 2,000 mile carbon dioxide pipeline across five states, including Iowa, and will capture 12 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually from 30 ethanol plants, including 12 in Iowa. A total of 703 miles of pipeline would go through the state, including 10.9 miles in Greene County.

Once the carbon dioxide is captured, it is compressed into the pipeline and carried to North Dakota, where it will be stored underground. The total cost is estimated to be $4.5 billion through private investors and would create 150,000 jobs initially with sustaining 350-460 permanent jobs across the network. Following the presentation, about 15 people spoke and voiced concerns about easement ownership, agreements with landowners, negative impacts if leaks were to happen, and other environmental concerns. A Kossuth County resident, which is one of the 30 Iowa counties involved, made a plea to the Greene County landowners to not sign a voluntary easement agreement.

“This pipeline is not a public utility. The profits go to Summit Bruce Rastetter and all of the other investors. The infrastructure is owned privately. Summit cannot build this pipeline without our public money and our land. That is not right. Eminent domain should not be used for private gain.”

Summit Vice President of Government and Public Affairs Jake Ketzner said they would prefer not to use eminent domain but rather seek voluntary easement agreements with the landowners. The estimated 57 parcels of land would be impacted in Greene County and the participating landowners would receive fair market value and if the pipeline crossed drainage tile, they would work with the landowner to move the pipeline or go under the tile. 

Louis Dreyfus is one of the 12 ethanol plants that also signed a 12 year agreement with Summit. Plant Manager Joe Gillespie told the crowd the main reason why they wanted to get involved with the project for his 60 employees.

“I can only say that the only way to keep the ethanol industry viable long term is to have a net zero carbon ethanol fuel. I want to continue to grind 130,000 bushels (of corn). This is an avenue that will help me get to net zero.”  

Josh Burns with the Iowa Utilities Board said Summit had filed a request for a series of public information meetings, with the final meeting to be held virtually. Because of its protocols, IUB did not keep minutes of the meeting, nor were any comments recorded. Burns noted comments can be filed electronically and a public hearing would be published for those who would like to make formal comments at that time. The hearing would not be until after a petition for a permit is filed by Summit. Click the links below for additional information or to file a comment.

 

Comments: https://iub.iowa.gov/online-services/open-docket-comment-form

Virtual meeting link: https://iub.iowa.gov/board-activity/hearing-and-meeting-calendar