Opponents to Summit Solutions Pipeline Appear in Front of Montgomery County Supervisors on Tuesday

(Red Oak) Opponents to the Summit Solutions Hazardous pipeline appeared before the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors this morning. Jan Norris says as expected the IUC declined to reconsider its’ approval of Summit’s Phase One route.

In its decision, the IUC unanimously found Summit Carbon Solutions met the requirements of the Iowa Code, and the pipeline would provide a service falling into the public’s convenience, and necessity. The proposal’s overall pipeline route, and grants the right of eminent domain over specific parcels listed in the order after the permit is issued. Norris says other counties are taking the lead in providing a template for road crossing permits, and a survey ordinance.

Norris mentioned there is a FreeSoil Foundation Co2 Pipeline rally this evening at the Viking Center in Stanton. The doors open at 6:00, the program starts at 6:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, state regulators have approved a public meeting schedule starting on August 26 at the Corning Opera House Cultural Center where Summit Carbon Solutions will present its significant proposed expansion for its carbon dioxide pipeline system.

There is also a meeting on August 27 at noon at the Red Coach Inn in Red Oak, and on August 27 at 6:00 p.m. at the Guthrie County Activity Center at 209 State Street in Guthrie Center.

The company’s initial network pipe in the state, which runs 690 miles, was approved by the IUC in June, although the permit is still barred from starting construction until it has permission to build the system in North and South Dakota. The system is expected to capture carbon dioxide at ethanol plants in five states, and transport it to an underground storage area in North Dakota. The expansion in Iowa includes about 340 miles of pipe to connect to more ethanol producers after another company, Navigator CO2, abandoned its plans for a similar project. Summit said they have agreements with 30 of the States’s 42 ethanol plants.

The public meetings for the expansions are set for 23 counties, after which Summit can negotiate for land easements, and petition of pipeline permits.