Five bills introduced by Sen. Jeff Taylor, a Sioux Center Republican, would curtail eminent domain opportunities for hazardous liquid pipeline companies, limit their ability to conduct land surveys and negotiate easements for that land and require them to identify their investors.
Although pipeline opponents have been vocal in every corner of the state, Iowa lawmakers have been largely silent about whether they will take any action to influence the projects.
Minnesota utility regulators on Thursday ruled that a carbon dioxide pipeline that’s been proposed by an Iowa-based company should undergo the most thorough environmental review available under state law.
Bremer County is one of a handful of local governments working to restrict what hazardous material pipelines can be built and where, but it will not prohibit pipeline construction all together.
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Summit intends to build about 680 miles of pipe in the northwestern half of the state to transport carbon dioxide from ethanol plants to North Dakota for underground sequestration. The company is surveying land to help determine the proposed pipeline’s path and depth.
Action may not come again until new board is sworn in next year.
Summit, as well as representatives for CO2 pipeline companies Wolf Carbon Solutions and Navigator CO2 ventures, argued the materials, which the Iowa Utilities Board requested in July, were preempted by federal law.
The board will meet in closed session with legal counsel on Tuesday to discuss the proposed ordinance. Other Iowa counties’ carbon pipeline setback ordinances have been met with legal challenges.
Linn County Supervisors know they can’t dictate exactly where hazardous materials pipelines are built, but they believe proposed setbacks are legal and will help protect residents.
First vote will be next Monday, when all supervisors are able to attend.
Wolf Carbon Solutions also holding informational meetings next week
The Iowa Utilities Board will not require Navigator Heartland Greenway to do an environmental impact study as part of its application for a state permit to build a carbon dioxide pipeline through Iowa.
It’s an enticement that has helped the company ink land easements for half of its proposed route through Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota, a company executive said.
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