CO2 pipeline ruptures in Louisiana
Iowa CCI members highlight need for caution while considering CO2 pipeline
Mitchell County, Iowa – A CO2 pipeline rupture was reported on the evening of April 3 in Sulphur, Louisiana. The pipeline is owned and operated by Denbury; the same company responsible for the CO2 pipeline that ruptured in Sataria, Mississippi in February of 2020 that sent 45 people to the hospital. In Iowa, Summit Carbon Solutions wants to fast-track hundreds of miles of CO2 pipelines, before federal safety regulations have been completed.
Lisa Ritzert, an Iowa CCI member with locally impacted property, shares:
“We are seeing that CO2 pipelines are unsafe technology. It is unproven that they could capture as much carbon as they claim they will, and they could use a billion or more gallons of water a year from Iowa's aquifers. We need to look at the cumulative effects and the big picture for the long-term. Proposed CO2 pipelines need serious community, resource, and safety studies with solid protections in place. That's why we're asking Mitchell County Supervisors for a County ordinance."
Ron Gasteiger, Iowa CCI member from rural St. Ansgar, shares his thoughts on how this relates to Summit Carbon Solutions' proposed CO2 pipeline in Iowa:
“I don't want this pipeline and there is no benefit to the people of Mitchell County. Summit is a big money, privately owned company trying to push this on us without federal safety provisions completed. I don't like to say it, but if this project is approved, those pipe walls won't last forever. A rupture is going to happen here someday too."
Ron continues: "Who is going to cover the costs for safety equipment or when our wells go dry? It shouldn't be the responsibility of the taxpayers. I don't think we have any control over what Summit wants to do in our county, without an ordinance. We need a county zoning ordinance for some local control."
Thousands of Iowans oppose these projects because:
They are dangerous and potentially deadly,
They use technology that has consistently failed to reduce carbon emissions,
They would extract an estimated billion gallons of water per year,
They rely heavily on public money, while putting millions of dollars in the pockets of CEOs like Bruce Rastetter, and
They threaten the use of eminent domain, to take private property for a privately owned company’s gain.
For more information on Summit’s proposed water usage and more, please check out Nancy Dugan's extensive coverage at Bleeding Heartland
Residents concerned about the proposed CO2 pipelines in Iowa are encouraged to reach out to Iowa CCI at 515-282-0484 or iowacci@iowacci.org