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House Bill Could Disrupt Carbon Pipeline Projects in Iowa
Representative Steven Holt is a lead sponsor of a bill that could disrupt proposed carbon pipeline projects in Iowa.
The bill says pipeline developers should get voluntary access to 90 percent of the pipeline route through Iowa before state utility regulators could grant the companies eminent domain authority to seize the rest. It also says the Iowa Utilities Board could not issue permits until new safety guidelines for carbon pipelines are issued by the federal government and developers secure permits from the neighboring states that the pipelines would pass through
Holt held an online news conference Thursday as one of 22 Republicans, including the speaker of the Iowa House, who introduced the bill.
“Eminent domain should be for highways. It should be for essential government services and government infrastructure that serves the public good and this is a very different project,” Holt said.
Pipeline backers say it's unfair to change regulations after project development is well underway. Holt says the biggest concern is the use of eminent domain to seize private property.
“Let’s talk about the landowners. Let’s talk about the century farms that have been there for over 100 years. Let’s talk about these property owners that don’t want this pipeline under their farms. What about them? What about the rug being pulled out from under them?” said Holt.
Legislators began discussing new pipeline rules last year before taking no action. It’s unclear what the GOP majority in the Senate would support. A Republican senator introduced five different bills so far this session to address pipeline issues. The House bill is supported by the top House Republican along with the chairmen of House committees dealing with taxation and legal issues. Holt is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and says the bill would set up a process for landowners to file complaints with the Iowa Utilities Board about inadequate land restoration along the pipeline route. Holt says the pipelines are a major issue in his district, which includes Shelby County, where the Board of Supervisors established local zoning rules for the pipelines and is being sued by Summit Carbon Solutions.
“Shelby County was the first in the state to enact those ordinances to try to protect their property owners, schools, and businesses. It is one of my top priorities in this legislative session to stand up for the landowners in my district,” said Holt.
A spokesman for Summit Carbon Solutions says the company announced its carbon capture project two years ago and says they hope legislators will not change the regulatory rules in the middle of the game.
