‘Dear IUB’: No CO2 Pipelines!

Members of Iowa CCI hand-deliver hundreds of comments to IUB opposing proposed pipeline projects

[Des Moines] – Today, members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement delivered over 700 signatures and comments from Iowans who oppose the proposed CO2 pipelines to the Iowa Utilities Board, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the office of Governor Reynolds.

This comes days after the IUB concluded the permit hearings for Summit Carbon Solutions. Commissioners Erik Helland, Sarah Martz, and Joshua Brynes have the ability to deny Summit's permit.

Iowa CCI members and landowners on the route of the Wolf/ADM pipeline, Susan and Jerry Stoefen, have major concerns about the safety of the CO2 pipelines, as well as the effects on the environment and strain on the state’s natural resources.

“I’m also concerned about the effectiveness of reducing CO2 emissions since we would be subsidizing these projects with billions of taxpayer dollars,” Susan said. “IUB chair Erik Helland and the two other commissioners need to deny Summit’s permit.”

Similarly, Carmily Stone and Michael Anderson of the Iowa DNR are currently considering a water permit requested by Summit Carbon Solutions. The pipeline would require 500 million gallons of water each year.

Jim Bird, an Iowa CCI board member from Cerro Gordo County, lives near the route of the proposed pipeline. He doesn’t think that the DNR should allow Summit to use Iowa’s resources in the name of corporate profits.

“The strain on our state’s aquifers would be immoral and it should be stopped,” Bird said. “CO2 capture is an all around bad idea and a poor use of our resources.”

The letter emphasizes the dangers of the proposed pipelines and the damage they could do to the land, as well as a strong opposition to the use of eminent domain for a project that does not serve public good. Iowa CCI members also called into question the well-funded relationship between Governor Kim Reynolds and Summit CEO Bruce Rastetter.

Long-time Iowa CCI member, Cherie Mortice from Polk County, also attended the action. She knows the relationship between Reynolds and Rastetter well and detests the way she has seen it influence decisions statewide.

“The ‘Big Pig’ corporate self-interest of Bruce Rastetter continues to set the agenda of the Reynolds Regime and give life to these destructive projects,” Mortice said. “Kim needs to stop kissing the ring of Summit CEO kingpin Rastetter.”