Let them eat cake

All across the state, Iowans continue to take a stand against the proposed CO2 pipelines. Members of the Sierra Club and members of the Farm Bureau. Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and members of the John Birch Society. Why is it that opposition to the carbon pipelines is so broad?

Because the issue at stake is fundamental. It exceeds the normal boundaries of politics. It is about respect — respect for our neighbors, respect for land, respect for community, respect for our children’s futures, and respect for the Constitution.

At a meeting of the Cedar County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 17 — where Chris Riley, ADM’s Director for State Government Relations, was in attendance to respond to questions about Wolf Carbon Solution’s proposed project — local citizens repeatedly articulated their concerns about safety. We know that PHMSA (the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration) has gone back to the drawing board “to strengthen its safety oversight of carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines around the country and protect communities from dangerous pipeline failures.” But Wolf Carbon Solutions wants to build their pipelines before PHMSA issues its new rules.

Nor does Wolf want the public to know about the safety risks that they, themselves, have already identified. Recently, lawyers for Wolf — and Summit and Navigator — won the right to deny the Iowa Utilities Board access to their modeling of CO2 plume dispersion, risk assessment for communities and individuals along their routes, or even EMS plans.

And so, the opposition to the CO2 pipelines is driven by moral outrage. At that Cedar County meeting, one neighbor stood up and addressed the only man in that room who was wearing a fancy suit and expensive shoes, Chris Riley from ADM. My neighbor said, “California has put a moratorium on carbon pipelines until PHMSA comes up with better regulations. Does that concern you at all? Does that concern you for the safety of the people?”

Riley replied immediately and without hesitation, “It does not.”

There was an audible gasp from audience members in the room. Some people were so upset that they stood up in shock and anger, overturning their chairs, and walked out. They took the politest action that they could manage under the circumstances — they removed themselves from the situation, lest a physical altercation erupt. They were “Iowa nice” to the core of their being.

But make no mistake — Iowa nice does not mean Iowa cowardice. And the words, “It does not,” are emblazoned on our hearts. Mr. Riley’s statement was the 21st-century equivalent of, “Let them eat cake.” It will not be forgotten.

Is it respectful for a corporate executive to tell us that the lives of our neighbors — of real people from our communities — of parents, children, grandparents — of elderly and disabled people — of landowners, renters, workers, retired people, and school children — are of no consequence in light of industry’s appetite for profit?

One group of people has decided that it can make a lot of money from the CO2 pipelines. Does that justify the threat of eminent domain? Can they take away our constitutional rights — and potentially even our lives — against our will, so as to rake in more and more money for themselves, further strengthening their position among an elite class of corporate earners whose purchasing power buys them the allegiance of politicians all the way from Des Moines to Washington, D. C.?

Look in the history books. Understand what is at stake. We certainly do.

Jessica Wiskus lives in rural Lisbon.