Iowa senators spar over eminent domain restrictions for carbon pipelines
During a heated exchange on the Senate floor, Republicans and Democrats in the Iowa Senate called on legislative leadership to take up a bill that would restrict the use of eminent domain
During a heated exchange on the Senate floor, Republicans and Democrats in the Iowa Senate called on legislative leadership to take up a bill that would restrict the use of eminent domain
During a heated exchange on the Senate floor, Republicans and Democrats in the Iowa Senate called on legislative leadership to take up a bill that would restrict the use of eminent domain
During a heated exchange on the Iowa Senate floor Tuesday, Republicans and Democrats in the Iowa Senate called on legislative leadership to take up a bill that would restrict the use of eminent domain.
Republican Sen. Lynn Evans spoke on a point of personal privilege and argued that the use of eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines is unconstitutional.
"Eminent domain was never intended to be used for this process, and I don't think this was the intent of our founding fathers," Evans said. "Let's get something to the floor, let's vote on it, and let's protect the rights of property owners in this state."
For several years, the Iowa House has passed bills to restrict the use of eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines, but the measures have consistently stalled in the Senate. This year, a House bill has made it through a Senate subcommittee and committee, though a Senate amendment significantly changed the content of the bill.
Evans applauded the bill's movement through a Senate committee and asked lawmakers to talk with the Senate Republican whip and pledge their support for the legislation. The bill would need 26 votes to pass.
Several Democratic senators said, including their votes, there's already enough support for the bill to pass.
"If this bill was on the floor, there'd be 26 votes for it," Sen. Zach Wahls (D-Coralville) said.
Some lawmakers asked Senate leadership to call a vote immediately.
"Bring it up," Bisignano shouted. "Let's debate it and vote on it. Give the people up there their right to their day of debate," he added, referencing the Iowa landowners watching from the Senate gallery.
Some landowners who watched the exchange at the Statehouse Tuesday said they're not optimistic that the Iowa Senate will take action. Greene County landowner Dan Tronchetti said he's been making trips to the Legislature to oppose the pipeline since 2022 and has seen bills die in the Senate year after year.
Summit Carbon Solution's proposed pipeline would run through Tronchetti's property.
"I want my grandkids to know that I fought to protect our land," he said. "Our other hope lies with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission."
Tronchetti said he's now putting his hope in South Dakota. The state recently passed a law banning eminent domain for carbon capture projects.
Tuesday afternoon, the South Dakota Public Utilities commission denied Summit Carbon Solution's route permit application. Summit needs approval to move forward with their $8.9 billion carbon capture pipeline project.
"If South Dakota does not give them a permit, hopefully there will be no construction in Iowa," Tronchetti said.
Summit said it will refile its application with a reduced route in South Dakota that reflects conversations with landowners and plant partners.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Summit Carbon Solutions said, "While we are disappointed in today's decision, we remain committed to South Dakota as without it the ethanol industry, farmers, and land values in the state will all suffer."
Executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Monte Shaw, said the proposed pipeline would provide a needed boost to Iowa's ethanol industry.
Shaw said he's hopeful the project will move forward with or without South Dakota.
"There are lots of locations where you can sequester carbon. There's lots of ways to get there that don't go through South Dakota," Shaw said. "The demand for ultra-low carbon ethanol is so big around the world that one state is not going to stop this pipeline."
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