116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Gov. Kim Reynolds selects new chair for Iowa Utilities Commission
Shuffle comes as Iowa senators don’t vote on confirming previous chair
May. 19, 2025 2:59 pm, Updated: May. 19, 2025 3:46 pm
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Gov. Kim Reynolds on Monday changed up the leadership of the commission that regulates utilities across Iowa after receiving pushback and failing to secure Iowa Senate confirmation to appoint Erik Helland to a new term as chair.
Reynolds appointed Sarah Martz as chair of the three-member Iowa Utilities Commission that sets utility rates and oversees the siting and construction of pipelines and electric transmission lines in the state.
Martz has served as an commissioner since May 2023. She assumes her role as chair effective immediately, according to the governors’ office.
Reynolds had nominated Helland to another term as chair, but the Republican-controlled Iowa Senate adjourned last week, closing out the 2025 legislation session, without voting on his appointment. Senate lawmakers, however, overwhelming voted to confirm former state lawmaker Josh Byrnes to a new term on the commission.
Several Republicans in the House have been highly critical of the way Helland handled the commission’s review and approval of the involuntary taking of land with compensation to build a carbon dioxide pipeline across the state.
The Iowa Senate last week passed legislation that would regulate CO2 pipelines and other infrastructure and restrict the use of eminent domain — the process by which land is seized for infrastructure projects — sending it to Reynolds for her consideration.
Summit Carbon Solutions has proposed a 2,500-mile CO2 pipeline through five states, including Iowa, to capture greenhouse gas emissions from ethanol plants and bury it in North Dakota. Defenders of the pipeline project say it will help boost Iowa’s struggling ethanol and agriculture industry by tapping into new and emerging markets for low-carbon fuels, needed to grow corn demand and increase farm income.
Regulators on the Iowa Utilities Commission approved a permit for the Iowa section, including granting Summit eminent domain powers. But regulators said construction cannot begin in Iowa until the Dakotas also have approved it.
Summit has faced challenges in South Dakota, which recently passed a law banning the use of eminent domain for the project. And South Dakota regulators have twice rejected permits, though Summit says it will try again with a new route.
Summit, in June 2024, said 75 percent of Iowa landowners on the project’s proposed route had signed voluntary easements, and that the company was working to increase that number.
Helland remains as a member of the Iowa Utilities Commission. His term expires on April 30, 2029.
Reynolds praised Martz’s depth of experience working on utility issues. She worked in roles at Alliant Energy-Interstate Power and Light Company for 11 years optimizing power plants, researching solar performance and piloting new technologies such as energy storage in Iowa communities. She also managed the electrical distribution engineering team for IPL.
Martz also serves on various committees and state working groups related to energy planning and transmission.
“Sarah’s background, engagement in regional and national associations, and experience to date on the commission will be an asset to the IUC as it prepares to help our state navigate an expected increase in demand with additional heavy power consumers coming online,” Reynolds said in a statement.
Jess Mazour, an activist with the Sierra Club and a leader among landowners who have lobbied lawmakers, said the group was happy to see the leadership change.
“We are really happy to see that we have finally built enough power to where the governor is paying attention to Iowa landowners who have been fighting for their property right for four years,” Mazour told The Gazette. “And we are happy that she listened and withdrew her appointment of Erik Helland as chair of the Iowa Utilities Commission. We look forward to see how Sarah Martz runs the IUC, but we do expect the state of Iowa and the governor’s office to respect people’s property rights throughout this whole process.”
Rep. Steve Holt, a Republican from Denison who has led on eminent domain legislation in the House, said it “remains to be seen whether (Martz) will be a strong voice for landowners or not.”
Sen. Mike Bousselot, a Republican from Ankeny who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday.
Bousselot — who previously headed external relations for Summit Agricultural Group, which owns Summit Carbon Solutions — has played a key role in shaping energy policy in Iowa, particularly regarding renewable energy and utility infrastructure.
Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com
Daily Newsletters