Why we are opposed

Carbon pipelines are bad for the environment.

We want real climate solutions, not greenwashing schemes!  We must end our dependence on fossil fuels and invest in solar, wind, battery storage, conservation, and efficiency.

CCS for Summit and Wolf’s carbon pipeline proposals are false climate solutions because:

1. It does not address other emissions or forms of pollution from fossil fuel extraction and industrial agriculture 
2. It could allow for the extension of fossil fuel extraction through enhanced oil recovery 
3. Fails to acknowledge CO2 is incredibly dangerous and a pipeline leak or break could poison surrounding communities and first responders
4. It will extend the life of the polluting ethanol industry and industrial agriculture practices that have contributed to our climate crisis, water pollution and more.
5. CCS continues business as usual and delays investment in REAL climate solutions

"Water Woes: Uncovering the True Cost of Summit’s Carbon Capture Project" describes the water needs of CCS.

Summit Carbon Solutions is proposing carbon capture projects at 31 ethanol plants across Iowa. Locally, statewide and regionally, these projects threaten to deplete public water resources in our aquifers.

Water would be used in Summit’s operation to capture carbon dioxide at the ethanol plants for dewatering, dust control, hydrostatic testing, and to cool the carbon dioxide because compression of the carbon dioxide generates heat. The amount of water that would be needed for the production of ethanol and Summit’s proposed carbon capture projects far exceeds the water usage for communities in a 10-mile radius surrounding the plants.

Many water uses in Iowa like power generation, public water and irrigation use water from Iowa’s alluvial aquifers, which can recharge relatively quickly as compared to Iowa’s deep aquifers. 90% of the water used for ethanol production comes from Iowa’s deep aquifers which are in danger of not being adequately recharged.

Iowa’s water resources are not endless. If Iowa DNR continues to hand out water withdrawal permits like candy when Iowa has never done a comprehensive study to determine how much water we have, Iowa is facing a looming water crisis. As we will show in this report, that is what is happening now.

In order to protect Iowa’s water resources, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and any other water authority must deny any water usage permits for Summit Carbon Solutions and other water requests for carbon capture projects. There must be a thorough study on Iowa’s deep bedrock aquifers to understand how much water is available and how it should be allocated to ensure Iowans can meet water needs for humans, livestock and industries.

Read our full report and more, "Water Woes: Uncovering the True Cost of Summit's Carbon Pipeline ", [https://www.sierraclub.org/iowa/waterreport]

Waste of public tax dollars

Summit Carbon Solutions has admitted that they would not be proposing their pipeline project if it weren’t for the 45Q, 45Z and other tax incentives.  The 45Q tax credit pays per ton of carbon dioxide sequestered or used for Enhanced Oil Recovery.  Summit has not disclosed how much it expects to make from various tax incentive programs, but we believe it will far exceed $30 billion dollars, more than their upfront infrastructure costs.

Dangerous

Carbon Dioxide pipelines are incredibly dangerous and potentially deadly.  CO2 is a toxicant and asphyxiant.  It is heavier than air and displaces oxygen.  Anyone in the area of  CO2 pipeline rupture is in immediate danger. 

A carbon pipeline in Satartia, Mississippi rupture in February 2020.  The rupture sent 45 people to the hospital and over 300 were forced to evacuate.  In response, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) did an investigation and determined that there are not adequate safety rules in place for CO2 pipelines.  PHMSA is currently working on draft rules and regulations.  In the meantime, Iowa should not move forward with any carbon pipeline proposal.

Threatens Land and Property Rights

Carbon pipeline construction damages farmland, rips out forests, endangers waterways and more. For this reason and more, landowners along the proposed routes do not want the Summit or Wolf’s pipeline.  If landowners refuse to sign voluntary easements, eminent domain will likely be used against them.

Eminent domain serves a purpose for things that are truly in the public benefit, like roads, bridges, water lines, etc.  Eminent domain should not be used for dangerous, for-profit projects.

There are currently 848 unsigned parcels on Summit’s Phase 1 route alone.  If eminent domain is forced on these landowners, it would be a precedent setting use of eminent domain in Iowa.  Wolf and Summit Phase 2 have not released numbers of easements signed, we believe those numbers to be very low.

View Objections, Ordinances, and other local action

Counties, cities and other local entities play an important role in protecting our communities from dangerous carbon pipelines.  Objections are an easy way for a local entity to register their opposition with the IUC.  We had dozens of counties, cities and local entities submit objections. 

Another, more meaningful, thing your County Supervisors could do is pass a Zoning Ordinance with setback distances for how far the proposed pipeline can be from homes, schools, businesses, etc. 

Check out our County Action Tracker and Interactive map to view where action has been taken, copies of ordinances and more. 

Take Action Now!

• If you're a landowner who will be directly impacted by the pipeline, we encourage you not to sign a voluntary easement. 
• If you are an impacted landowner, email jessica.mazour@sierraclub.org for information to get involved in the landowner opposition Group
• Sign up for weekly carbon pipeline opposition newsletter
• Sign up for our monthly Sierra Club Newsletter
• Watch our Lunch & Learns on Facebook on Fridays at noon. 
• Submit an objection to the Iowa Utility Board to ask them not to grant a permit to Summit and Wolf.  Click this link and find the docket that you wish to object to.  Below is a list of the current IUB dockets for Summit and Wolf.  You can submit as many objections as you’d like throughout the process and we encourage you to do so.  

Resources:

Videos, Webinars, and News Articles:

• Our YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@IowaSierraClub/videos
• Watch our "Carbon Pipelines: A Disaster Waiting to Happen" webinar.
• Watch our "Protect Our Land: No Carbon Pipelines" webinar.
• Carbon pipelines require a lot of water from our aquifers. Watch this video about Carbon Pipelines, CCS and Water, November, 2023
• Watch the IUB hearing, including testimony from landowners, Summit and other experts, August-November 2023
• Watch Jess Mazour on Iowa Press, April, 2023
• Gassing of Satartia
• Grist article on CO2 leak
• Read the article "US carbon pipeline company pledges no oil recovery, but Bakken drillers want it", written by Leah Douglas, Reuters, March 11, 2024

Fact Sheets and Maps:

• See our fact sheet on CO2 pipelines
• See our flyer on "Tell your legislators, "No eminent domain for hazardous liquid pipelines" and how to answer their concerns"
• Landowners: Know Your Rights About Surveys, Land Agents and Easements
• Landowners: Know Your Rights About Eminent Domain
• Find out why counties should hire an independent inspector. (share this with your County Supervisors)
• Pass a County Ordinance to protect your community from carbon pipelines.  Several counties have already passed an ordinance - Shelby, Story, Adair, Bremer, Butler, Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth, Palo Alto
• Click here for an interactive map of the carbon pipeline projects.

Iowa Law:

• Chapter 9 - Restoration of Agricultural Lands During and After Pipeline Construction
• Chapter 479b - Hazardous Liquid Pipelines and Storage Facilities

Archive of CO2 pipeline materials

See archive for older information