Pipelines

• Next steps for Summit CO2 pipeline

• Tell your local elected officials to help stop the carbon pipelines

Protecting the Environment

• Iowa Caucus Resolutions

• Ben Jealous visits Iowa

• Save the date - Outing to Whiterock Conservancy, May 4, 2024

Plus

• Our Lunch and Learns on environmental topics

• Contribute to the Iowa Chapter

• Volunteer for the Iowa Chapter

• Calendar of events

• To see the archive of previous Iowa Chapter newsletters

• To see the White Pine Needle newsletter

Next steps for Summit CO2 pipeline

The hearing for the Summit carbon dioxide pipeline was completed on November 8, 2023.  All witnesses have been called and their testimonies have been heard.  Hearing exhibits and pre-filed testimony are now part of the record and can be referred to in the remainder of the Utilities Board (IUB) proceedings and any future appeals.  All of the written objections, support letters, and comments that were entered in the docket at the time the hearing concluded are also part of the record.  The Board will not be taking public comment, contrary to plans published earlier this year and prior to the seating of the two most recent Board members.

The court reporters transcripts of all of proceedings have been filed.  Each day's proceedings was transcribed into a written document which is filed in the IUB docket for the Summit application.

The lawyers and intervening parties are now working on briefs.  Each brief will be up to 150 pages in length.  An additional 15 pages will be allowed for each Exhibit H landowner (those parcels that have not agreed to a voluntary easement).   The lawyers and intervening parties have 6 weeks to write their briefs and they are due on December 29, 2023.

The briefs will be followed by reply briefs.  The lawyers and intervening parties have 3 weeks to write their reply briefs once the opening briefs have been filed and they are due on January 19, 2024.  The reply briefs, which are up to 75 pages long, respond to issues that the parties brought up in the opening briefs.

Once all of the reply briefs have been submitted, the Utilities Board will consider the facts and issues and then make their decision.

A brief will have several parts, including

• an overview of the facts

• identification of the issues that the board needs to consider

• review of the laws and rules surrounding the pipeline

• review of previous decisions - by the IUB, at the Iowa Appeals Court, the Iowa Supreme Court, the US Appeals Courts, and the US Supreme Court - and how those decisions affect this case.

• request of the board - to deny the permit or to put conditions on the permit.  Summit will ask for the permit to be granted along with eminent domain.

Among the issues that will be discussed in the briefs are whether the pipeline is a public convenience and necessity, whether eminent domain should be allowed, if the pipeline is a common carrier which carries with it eminent domain, safety issues, and whether neighbors and tenants should have been denied the right to be intervenors.  There will be numerous other issues once the lawyers read the transcripts, review the hearing exhibits, and consider the objections and other filings in the docket.

What you can do

• Stay involved by writing letters to the editor about the IUB proceedings and pipeline issues.

• Continue discussing your concerns with the Iowa legislators.

• Ask your supervisors to pass an ordinance protecting the public from the hazardous CO2 pipelines.  Shelby County has a good model to follow.

Tell your local elected officials to help stop the carbon pipelines

Now that the Summit hearing has wrapped up, it’s time to shift our focus and energy to our local elected officials.  County Supervisors, City Council members and other elected officials have power to help stop the carbon pipelines.

44 County Board of Supervisors, 30 towns and cities, and 24 other local entities along the proposed carbon pipeline routes have submitted objections to the Utilities Board.  An objection is simply a formal statement that the Supervisors are opposed to the pipelines and the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines.

7 Counties have passed carbon pipeline zoning ordinances.  A zoning ordinance sets setback distances from homes, schools, hospitals, city limits, etc.  These ordinances are critical to make sure if the pipelines are approved, that they do not endanger the things we love.  The County Ordinances contain other things as well like Conditional Use Permits, fees and more.

But we still have a lot of work to do to protect our communities from the carbon pipelines.  We need more local elected officials taking a stand against the carbon pipelines so we can build the power we need to stop the projects!

Call your County Supervisor, City Council members, and other local officials today and ask them to take action against the carbon pipelines.  Below is a map of all the entities that have taken action.  See a list of all the ordinances and objections that have been passed so far.

Ben Jealous visits Iowa

About a year ago Ben Jealous became the Executive Director for Sierra Club.  Following his hiring, Ben looked at the structure of the Club with the result being a new emphasis on the field structure and grassroots activities.

Iowa Chapter Chair EJ Gallagher stated, "We look forward to expanding the Sierra Club work in Iowa.  We will be encouraging members to become active in our projects, attend group and chapter meetings, and respond to action alerts."  

One of Ben's goals was to visit with the leaders of every chapter.  In October, Ben spent part of a day with the Iowa Chapter executive committee.  We had an opportunity to highlight several of our projects - Supreme Beef, the carbon dioxide pipelines, and coal plant retirements.

While Ben was visiting with us, we invited him to come back to Iowa to speak at our annual meeting.  We are in the process of scheduling that meeting.

Below is a photo from the Executive Committee members meeting with Executive Director Ben Jealous.

Iowa Caucus Resolutions

The Iowa caucuses will be held on January 15, 2024.  The Iowa Chapter is providing two resolutions that can be submitted - one on carbon dioxide pipelines and one on water quality.  To see a pdf of the resolutions, caucus resolutions .

Outing to Whiterock Conservancy, May 4, 2024

The Chapter has scheduled an outing to Whiterock Conservancy outside of Coon Rapids, Iowa, on May 4, 2024.  We are planning three hikes plus an art activity in the visitor center.  One hike will be a shorter, easier hike along the Raccoon River.  A second hike will last a couple of hours and will be a little more strenuous.  A third shorter hike will be on the paved trail.  We will have hike leaders who can point out flowers and birds.  This will be in the prime of the song bird migration and the blooming wildflowers.

For those who want to spend more time at Whiterock, there are many activities you can do on your own - biking, hiking, camping, staying in one of the farm houses on the property, exploring the history of the Garst family, and more. 

Save the date - May 4, 2024 - and plan to join us on one of the hikes.  We will have more details in future newsletters.

Lunch and Learns

Every Friday at noon, we do a Lunch and Learn livestream.  See us on Facebook at "Sierra Club Iowa Chapter".  These will be recorded so you can watch them anytime.  Topics will be selected based on what is happening during the week and will be announced the day before the livestream.  During the legislative session, we cover issues coming before the Iowa legislature.

In case you missed our past webinars and lunch and learn sessions, you can still see them. 

• See "Summit's IUB hearing has concluded. What's next?", November 10, 2023
• Learn about "Stop Summit Rally", November 3, 2023
• View "Victories, Victories Everywhere!", October 27, 2023
• See "Supreme Beef Update: deja vu", October 20, 2023

Volunteer for the Iowa Chapter

Almost everything we do is done by volunteers like you.  If you would like to volunteer for the Iowa Chapter, please let us know by sending an E-mail to Iowa.chapter@sierraclub.org.  Or sign up by using the online form.  There are many opportunities for you to make a difference:

• making phone calls

• developing graphics for banners and flyers

• working on legislative issues

• working on elections

• fundraising

• organizing events

• joining an issue committee 

If you would like to join our legislative action team, sign up here.  Keep on top of what is happening at the Iowa legislature.  Be alerted when you should contact your legislators about pending legislation.

Photo below is a red-tailed hawk by Jessica Mazour.

Sierra Club - working every day on Iowa’s environmental problems

Sierra Club is Iowa’s oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization.  Not only that, we are the best bet in the state for achieving bold solutions to Iowa’s environmental problems.

We work in the courts, before Iowa’s public agencies, and in the halls of the legislature.  The Iowa Chapter's effort to protect the environment takes financial support.  The Chapter receives very little financial support from the national Sierra Club.  Can we count on you for a donation to ensure even more victories?  Your contribution will be put to work here in Iowa on issues that affect every day Iowans – water quality, clean air, protection of Iowa's soil, parks and natural areas, and a strong democracy.  The Iowa Chapter is relentless in fighting back bad legislation that affects every one of us. 

Your non-deductible contributions make it possible for us to fight bad legislation and to promote good legislation.  We appreciate your past and on-going support of these efforts.  You can make a non-deductible donation with a credit card.   A non-deductible donation supports the Chapter's effective, citizen-based advocacy and lobbying programs.  If you prefer, a non-deductible check can be written to the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter and mailed to:

Treasurer
Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter
PO Box 1058
Marion, IA 52302

You can also make a tax-deductible donation with a credit card.  Tax-deductible activities are limited to public interest education, research and legal actions.  A deductible check can be written to the Sierra Club Foundation with “Iowa Chapter” written in the memo line.

Thank you for your support.

Donate your used vehicle

As the Sierra Club Foundation's Iowa Chapter continues to raise charitable funds to support its work in Iowa, won’t you consider participating in our vehicle donation program?  Our partners over at CARS have made the process of donating your unused or unneeded car, truck, motorcycle, boat or RV easy, efficient and secure.  They’ll take care of everything from picking up your vehicle to sending you a tax receipt for your generous gift.  To learn more about The Sierra Club Foundation's Iowa Chapter vehicle donation program, please call 844-674-3772.  Or visit our webpage to get started today!

Sierra Club Foundation promotes climate solutions, conservation, and movement building through a powerful combination of strategic philanthropy and grassroots advocacy. The Foundation is the fiscal sponsor of Sierra Club’s charitable environmental programs.

For more information 

Planned giving . . . naming the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter in your will 

Ensure your environmental legacy by naming the Iowa Chapter in your will or trust. These gifts cost you nothing now. You can hold onto your assets for as long as you need them.

Thank you for supporting our work!