Utilities board ignores safety and rights

As a Republican serving in the Iowa House, and a co-sponsor of legislation to protect Iowans, I am appalled at the decision of the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) to approve of the Summit Carbon Solutions application.

This application allows the company to take private property to enhance its profit. The claim that sequestering liquefied carbon dioxide (CO2) will “promote the public convenience and necessity” is preposterous! The IUB ignored the testimony from several experts on the dangers to the surrounding communities.

In Satartia, MS, a CO2 pipeline rupture in 2020 occurred nearly one mile from the town. When the regulators visited the Iowa House subcommittee, they reported “No serious injuries. But, in fact, 40-plus people were hospitalized, some with permanent health damage.

Wolf Pipeline (serving ADM) will be within feet, not miles, from homes, schools, and businesses.

Each of these CO2 pipeline companies have stated the initial pipeline is a “trunk” line, meaning any other producer of CO2 may connect at a future date.

The pipeline companies refuse to release the “plume map.” This “proprietary information” predicts potential kill zones. Death within this zone is rated in “seconds and minutes for survival.” Pressure and temperature in the pipeline and atmospheric conditions determine the zone.

In addition to the potential dangers, the process of liquefying carbon dioxide consumes massive amounts of water and electricity.

If this ruling stands, Summit would be allowed to use eminent domain to take property in more densely populated areas, moving CO2 from any manufacturing firm that wants to cash in on the tax credits.

Requests to wait until the federal regulatory body, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), writes updated safety measures were also ignored. I attended the PHMSA meeting in Des Moines and heard several of the experts request new and stronger guidelines.

In addition to the safety problems, there are several reasons every Iowan who owns any form of land — home, business, or farm- should find this ruling dangerous. The testimony about the misuse of eminent domain for the profit of private industry were also ignored.

The Iowa House, with strong bipartisan support, passed two pieces of legislation in the recent General Assembly that would have given greater protections to landowners faced with condemnation of their property by a private entity. Unfortunately, the legislation was blocked by two Senators and was not brought to a vote in the Senate. The influence peddlers including former governors Terry Branstad and Tom Vilsack as well as big-donor Bruce Rastetter have totally ignored the citizens of Iowa in favor of their profits. Absentee landowners are happy to take large payments made with taxpayer dollars while risking the lives and properties of residents Iowans.

I have vowed to continue to work for the safety of our rural communities and the constitutional rights of my constituents.

State Rep. Cindy Golding is a Republican from Cedar Rapids representing DIstrict 83.