Say NO to CO2 pipeline projects proposed in Iowa!
Iowans across the state are fighting two carbon dioxide pipelines. We are joined with citizens in our neighboring states. And we are winning the battles.
July 1, 2024, the name of the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) was changed to the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC). On this webpage and in our materials, we have kept the IUB designation for events that happened before the name change. We are using the Iowa Utilities Commission on new items.
To learn more, you can read below or jump to items that interest you:
- Status Updates
- We want real climate solutions - not greenwashing schemes!
- Take Action Now!
- Resources
- Summit Carbon needs over 3 billion gallons of water annually for its pipeline project
- Pipeline construction scars the land for years
- Counties intervening at the Iowa Utilities Commission (formerly the Iowa Utilities Board)
- Counties Object to the Pipelines; tell the Utilities Board to deny eminent domain
- Towns and Cities Object to the Pipelines; tell Utilities Board to deny eminent domain
- Governor Reynolds Refuses to Meet with Iowans Impacted by the Carbon Pipelines
- Navigator Heartland Greenway CO2 project
Status Updates
Summit Project Status - Sierra Club has appealed the Iowa Utilities Commission's approval of the application for the Summit CO2 pipeline made on June 25, 2024. The case was filed in Polk County District Court.
After Navigator canceled its carbon pipeline project in 2023, Summit contracted with some of Navigator’s ethanol plants. Now Summit has begun the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) process for the expansion routes to those ethanol plants. At this point, all of the informational meetings in the impacted counties have been held.
We are winning!!!
- South Dakota PUC denied Navigator's pipeline permit
- South Dakota PUC upheld the County Zoning Ordinances
- North Dakota PSC denied Summit's pipeline permit (Summit has asked for a reconsideration)
- South Dakota PUC denied Summit's pipeline permit
- Oliver County, ND voted no on two of Summit's injection wells
- Mercer County, ND denied five of Summit's road crossing permits
- Navigator puts permitting on hold in Iowa
- Summit puts DNR Air Quality and Wastewater permitting on hold in Iowa
- Oct. 20, 2023, Navigator canceled its Heartland Greenway carbon dioxide pipeline project.
- Wolf withdraws in Illinois after ICC staff recommend denial of the application
- Stanton County, Nebraska denied Summit a Conditional Use Permit
- Illinois ICC denied One Earth’s Energy carbon pipeline
- Illinois passed a 2-year moratorium on carbon sequestration among other carbon pipeline regulations
State Permitting Boards:
We want real climate solutions - not greenwashing schemes!
Iowa currently has two carbon dioxide (CO2) pipeline proposals. They are centered around Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). The lines would carry captured carbon dioxide from ethanol plants. CCS is very complicated but when you boil it down, the basic premise is that it captures the carbon dioxide and stores it underground (CCS) or it captures the carbon dioxide and uses it for industrial purposes, Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS).
Summit and Wolf pipelines claim that they are going to permanently store the CO2 underground.
The pipelines in Iowa are being offered as false climate solutions. We already know the solutions to our climate crisis - we must end our dependence on fossil fuels and invest in solar, wind, battery storage, conservation and efficiency!
CO2 Pipelines Proposed in Iowa:
1. Summit Carbon Solutions, aka Bruce Rastetter’s CO2 Pipeline. Bruce Rastetter’s Pipeline connects ethanol plants and other industrial agriculture facilities to a pipeline that leads to North Dakota. From there the CO2 will be stored underground or will be used for Enhanced Oil Recovery. Below is the map for Phase 1 of the Summit CO2 pipeline.
CCS is a false solution in this instance because:
- It does not address other emissions or forms of pollution from fossil fuel extraction and industrial agriculture
- It will allow for the extension of fossil fuel extraction through enhanced oil recovery
- Fails to acknowledge CO2 is incredibly dangerous and a pipeline leak or break could poison surrounding communities and first responders
- 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.
- CCS continues business as usual and delays investment in REAL climate solutions
Map below shows the Summit route, including the POET and Valero ethanol plants that are part of Phase 2 expansion of the Summit CO2 pipeline.
2. Wolf Carbon Solutions is partnering with ADM to run a carbon dioxide pipeline from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Clinton, Iowa, and then onto Decatur, Illinois. This was announced on January 11, 2022.
In the examples of these proposed carbon pipelines in Iowa, CCS is a false solution that takes us farther away from our climate goals. These pipelines continue business as usual, will only be feasible with massive public subsidies, and should not be approved. Let’s invest in REAL climate solutions.
Take Action Now!
- If you are an impacted landowner, email jessica.mazour@sierraclub.org for information to get involved in the landowner opposition Group
- If you're a landowner who will be directly impacted by the pipeline, we encourage you not to sign a voluntary easement.
- Sign up for our Newsletter for updates
- 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.
Docket Number |
Applicant Name |
Ethanol Plant |
Counties |
Initial Docket Filing w/ County Maps |
HLP-2021-0001 |
Summit Carbon Solutions, LLC |
Original Route |
Fremont, Page, Montgomery, Pottawattamie, Shelby, Crawford, Ida, Cherokee, O'brien, Plymouth, Sioux, Woodbury, Lyon, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Palo Alto, Kossuth, Hancock, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Chicksaw, Wright, Franklin, Hardin, Story, Webster Green |
|
HLP-2023-0004 |
Summit Carbon Solutions, LLC |
Absolute Energy |
Mitchell, Floyd |
|
HLP-2024-0001 |
SCS Carbon Transport LLC |
POET - Fairbank and Shell Rock, IAL-501, IAT-401 |
Bremer, Butler, Fayette, Floyd |
|
HLP-2024-0002 |
SCS Carbon Transport LLC |
POET - Iowa Falls and Jewell, IAL-502, IAL-503 |
Hamilton, Hardin |
|
HLP-2024-0003 |
SCS Carbon Transport LLC |
Valero - Fort Dodge and POET - Gowrie, IAL-504, 505 |
Webster |
|
HLP-2024-0004 |
SCS Carbon Transport LLC |
POET - Coon Rapids and Menlo, IAL-506, 507 |
Green, Guthrie |
|
HLP-2024-0005 |
SCS Carbon Transport LLC |
POET - Arthur, IAL-508 |
Ida |
|
HLP-2024-0006 |
SCS Carbon Transport LLC |
POET - Corning, IAL-509 |
Adams, Montgomery |
|
HLP-2024-0007 |
SCS Carbon Transport LLC |
POET - Hudson, IAL-510 |
Sioux |
|
HLP-2024-0008 |
SCS Carbon Transport LLC |
Valero - Charles City, IAT-402 |
Floyd |
|
HLP-2024-0009 |
SCS Carbon Transport LLC |
POET - Hanlontown, IAL-516 |
Mitchell, Worth |
|
HLP-2024-0010 |
SCS Carbon Transport LLC |
Valero - Lakota, IAT-404 |
Hancock, Kossuth |
|
HLP-2024-0011 |
SCS Carbon Transport LLC |
POET - Emmetsburg, IAT-405 |
Palo Alto |
|
HLP-2024-0012 |
SCS Carbon Transport LLC |
Valero - Albert City, IAT-406 |
Buena Vista, Clay |
|
HLP-2024-0013 |
SCS Carbon Transport LLC |
Valero - Hartley, IAT-407 |
O'Brien |
|
HLP-2024-0014 |
SCS Carbon Transport LLC |
POET - Ashton, IAT-408 |
O'Brien, Osceola |
|
HLP-2022-0002 |
Wolf Carbon Solutions |
|
Linn, Cedar, Scott, Clinton |
|
Resources:
Videos, Webinars, and News Articles:
- Learn about CO2 Pipeline Risks in this video about Navigator’s plume modeling, December, 2023
- 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
- See the webinar "Stories From Satartia", January, 2022
- Watch our "Carbon Pipelines: A Disaster Waiting to Happen" webinar.
- Watch our "Protect Our Land: No Carbon Pipelines" webinar.
- Watch the Science and Environmental Health Network's webinar to learn more about Carbon Capture & Storage.
- Hear why this landowner in Linn County says no to a voluntary easement.
- What does a CO2 pipeline rupture look like? Watch this.
- See the Governor's answer about legislation to stop eminent domain for private gain, on Iowa Press on February 18, 2022
- See the Market to Market segment on carbon dioxide pipelines, aired the weekend of July 29, 2022, segment on the carbon dioxide pipelines starts at 5:30
- 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
Summit Carbon needs over 3 billion gallons of water annually for its pipeline project
A recent report released by the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter and impacted landowners exposes a looming water crisis facing Iowans—can Iowa’s aquifers sustain the amount of water being withdrawn?
Based on data from similar facilities and current ethanol usage, Summit’s 31 carbon capture facilities across Iowa will require 3.36 billion gallons of water from Iowa’s aquifers annually—equivalent to adding 10-11 new ethanol plants in Iowa. Much of this water comes from areas already struggling to meet demands for surrounding ethanol plants, industry and municipal use.
To review the report, "Water Woes: Uncovering the True Cost of Summit's Carbon Pipeline "
Counties intervening at the Iowa Utilities Board
Counties have a huge stake in the pipelines proceedings before the Utilities Board, including requests for eminent domain over their landowner's properties, issues related to emergency management, restoration of farmland should the pipelines be built, and the right for the pipelines to cross public property. By intervening, the counties will have a seat at the table during the formal hearings. You can ask your members of the Board of Supervisors to intervene in the pipeline cases currently before the Utilities Board.
Counties that intervened in the first phase of the Summit pipeline case are:
- Dickinson
- Emmet
- Floyd
- Franklin
- Hardin
- Kossuth
- Shelby
- Woodbury
- Wright
Counties that have requested to intervene or have already intervened in the Wolf pipeline case are:
- Linn
Counties Object to the Pipelines; tell Utilities Board to deny eminent domain
The Boards of Supervisors from counties across the state are writing letters to the Iowa Utilities Board objecting to the pipeline project and telling the Board to deny the use of eminent domain for the pipeline projects.
See map of counties that have filed objections. Below is a list of the counties and a link to what they have filed:
- Cedar - Wolf, filed August 18, 2022
- Cerro Gordo - Summit, filed February 25, 2022
- Clay - Summit, filed February 23, 2022
- Crawford - Summit, filed January 14, 2022
- Dickinson - Summit, filed December 28, 2021
- Emmet - Summit, filed January 7, 2022
- Floyd, Summit, filed September 27, 2022
- Franklin - Summit, filed January 7, 2022
- Fremont - Summit, May 3, 2022
- Greene, Summit, filed April 13, 2022
- Hancock - Summit, filed December 27, 2021
- Hardin - Summit, intervened on behalf of the county - filed May 5, 2022
- Iowa - Summit, filed December 7, 2021
- Johnson - Wolf (ADM), filed July 14, 2022
- Kossuth - Summit - filed December 8, 2021
- Linn - Summit, filed January 13, 2022, Wolf filed January 13, 2023
- Lyon - Summit, filed January 14, 2022
- Mills - Summit, filed May 20, 2022
- Mitchell - Summit, filed May 29, 2024
- Montgomery - Summit, filed April 5, 2022
- O’Brien - Summit, filed December 27
- Page - Summit, filed May 9, 2022
- Palo Alto - Summit, filed December 21, 2021
- Plymouth - Summit, filed January 7, 2022, April 26, 2022
- Pottawattamie - Summit, filed August 23, 2022
- Scott - Wolf, filed September 15, 2022
- Shelby - Summit, filed January 21, 2022
- Sioux - Summit, filed January 24, 2022
- Story - Summit, filed December 14, 2021
- Webster - Summit, filed May 5, 2022
- Woodbury - Summit, filed January 11, 2022
- Wright - Summit, filed November 19, 2021, see page 11
Towns and Cities Object to the Pipelines; tell Utilities Board to deny eminent domain
City Councils from across the state are writing letters to the Iowa Utilities Board objecting to the pipeline project and telling the Board to deny the use of eminent domain for the pipeline projects. Below is a list of the towns and cities and a link to what they have filed:
- City of Fairfax, Navigator, filed 12.22.21
- City of Walford, Navigator, pg 11, filed 12.20.22
- Mount Vernon, Navigator, pg 47, filed 1.21.22
- City of Kinglsey, Navigator, filed 2.18.22
- Marengo, Navigator, pg 32, filed 2.11.22
- Story City, Navigator, filed 3.16.22
- Deep River, Navigator, pg 2, filed 3.25.22
- City of Rockford, Summit & Navigator, pg 5, filed 3.20.22
- City of Terril, Navigator, pg 6 filed 3.20.22 and Summit, filed 8.30.22
- Palmer, Navigator, filed 7.22.22
- City of Fairbank, Navigator, filed 8.25.22
- City of Oelwein, Navigator, filed 8.30.22
- City of Manchester, Navigator, filed 9.13.22
- City of Readlyn, Summit & Navigator, filed 9.20.22
- City of Independence, Navigator, filed 9.20.22
- City of Long Grove, Wolf, filed 10.13.22
- City of Fremont, Navigator, filed 11.14.22
- City of Eldridge, Wolf, filed 12.9.22
- City of Donahue,Wolf, filed 1.6.23
- City of Waverly, Navigator, filed 1.13.22
- City of Armstrong, Navigator, filed 1.20.23
- Shell Rock, Navigator, filed 2.14.23
- Ely, Wolf, filed 3.13.23
- City of Clarksville, Navigator, filed 4.7.23
- City of Gruver, Summit & Navigator, filed 4.11.23
- City of Wallingford, Summit & Navigator, filed 5.2.23
- City of Dows, Summit, filed 5.4.23
- City of New Providence, Summit and Navigator, filed 5.12.23
- City of Dolliver, Navigator, filed 7.5.23
- City of Sioux City, Summit & Navigator, filed 11.9.23
Meeting with Governor about CO2 pipelines, State Fair, 2024
After a number of attempts of trying to meet with the governor about the carbon dioxide pipelines, Jess Mazour finally had an opportunity.
For over 3 years, Sierra Club Iowa Chapter and impacted landowners have been trying to meet with Governor Kim Reynolds to ask her to protect Iowans and our property rights from the Summit and Wolf carbon pipelines. And for three years, Reynolds and her staff have ignored our requests.
Even though Governor Reynolds has been hiding from impacted landowners and the carbon pipeline issue, last week we spotted her at the Iowa State Fair! She was having her picture taken with fair attendees.
Sierra Club Iowa Chapter staff Jess Mazour took up Reynold’s offer to take a picture with. As she was posing, Jess told her to stop stealing Iowa farm land for Summit’s carbon pipeline scam. Reynold’s facial expression changed and she quickly responded, “I have nothing to do with the carbon pipelines.” Mazour reminded the Governor of her two hand-picked appointments to the Iowa Utilities Commission and the purposeful stalling of our eminent domain bill in the Iowa Senate.
Reynolds' staff quickly ushered Mazour away after her picture was taken.
It is interesting to note that the governor is meeting regularly with Bruce Rastetter, founder of the Summit CO2 pipeline.
Iowa needs a Governor who stands with people over pipelines!
March, 2024, Update: Governor Reynolds Refuses to Meet with Iowans Impacted by the Carbon Pipelines
Des Moines, IA. Governor Kim Reynolds has ignored meeting requests from landowners impacted by the carbon pipelines for over three years - yet she has regular meetings with Summit Carbon Pipeline owner, Bruce Rastetter.
Iowans should question who Governor Reynolds is loyal to, Bruce Rastetter and other big monied interests or the people of Iowa who she is elected to represent.
Landowners have sent numerous emails, letters and showed up at her office to formally request a meeting ever since the carbon pipeline projects were announced in fall of 2021. On Wednesday, January 31, 2024 Governor Reynolds Director of Strategic Operations Eric Baker sent an email saying “Jess - Thanks for stopping by the office today to inquire about a meeting. As requested, I will be in touch by Friday evening with an update.” To date, Baker has not responded with an update.
Since 2022, a multitude of bills to protect Iowans from the carbon pipelines have been stalled in the Senate Commerce Committee, Chaired by Senator Waylon Brown. This session, SF2097, a bill strongly supported by Sierra Club and landowners, died before a subcommittee was every scheduled. The members of the subcommittee were Senator Waylon Brown and Mike Bousselot.
We’ve been told by many legislators Governor Renolds has instructed Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver and Senate Commerce Committee Chair Waylon Brown to ensure carbon pipelines are not brought up at all.
That is why we want to meet with Governor Reynolds - we believe she is doing the work for Bruce Rastetter to ensure his carbon pipeline is rammed through - despite massive opposition from her voters.
While Governor Reynolds refuses to meet with her own voters, she rolls out the red carpet to meet with Bruce Rastetter, owner of Summit Carbon Solutions, quarterly. Some of the scheduled meetings were canceled due to the pandemic however, Governor Reynolds and Bruce Rastetter found time to meet over lunch and dinner. We believe it is very likely that Summit Carbon Solutions staff have regular and open communication with the Governor’s Office. In fact, a series of emails about those regular meetings was filed with the Iowa Utilities Board as a hearing exhibit.
Governor Reynolds appointed two new Iowa Utilities Board members halfway through the process. We believe these IUB members were appointed for a reason - to continue to do the bidding of Bruce Rastetter. Some of the first actions the new IUB Board made were fast tracking the hearing so it fell during harvest, denied interventions, hired Summit’s security for the IUB hearing, and complained about how long landowner testimony was taking throughout the hearing.
Iowans are calling on Governor Reynolds to meet with landowners and protect our state from these dangerous carbon pipelines.
Iowa Landowners Request Meeting with Governor Reynolds After Senate Takes No Action On Eminent Domain Bill
Governor Reynolds has the power to protect the landowners - will she use it?
February 16, 2022
Des Moines, IA. Today Iowa landowners impacted by the Summit and Navigator pipelines have formally requested a meeting with Governor Reynolds after the Senate Commerce Committee took no action on the eminent domain bill.
SF 2160 passed out of subcommittee on Tuesday and a Senate Commerce Committee hearing was scheduled for the bill today. Shortly after the meeting started, Senator Schultz announced that the bill was being pulled from the agenda with no explanation as to why.
Landowners and other opposition groups say this isn’t over yet. The bill can still move forward if there is political will. Governor Reynolds has the power to make sure the bill advances and she has the power to stop the pipelines in their tracks. “The big question is whether Governor Reynolds will protect us landowners or will she protect the private pipeline companies. That’s why we want to meet with her. She hasn’t sought out our opinion at all throughout this process.” said Craig Woodward, landowner in Cerro Gordo County.
Earlier this year, Governor Reynolds created the carbon sequestration task force, stacked with pipeline insiders from Summit, Navigator, Valero, ADM, Iowa Utilities Board Chair Geri Huser and others. This sends a strong signal to Iowa landowners that she cares more about these pipeline companies and the big donors associated with them than she does about everyday Iowans who vote for her.
Landowners hope to meet with Governor Reynolds before planting season, before farmers are busy out in the fields.
Navigator Heartland Greenway CO2 project
See more about the Navigator project and our work.
We know our strategy works. We've already stopped the Navigator CO2 pipeline. Oct. 20, 2023, Navigator cancelled its Heartland Greenway carbon dioxide pipeline project.