State commission sets informational meeting schedule for Summit pipeline additions, including Floyd County

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

The Iowa Utilities Commission has approved a schedule for public informational meetings regarding proposed additions to the Summit Carbon Solutions carbon dioxide pipeline project.

The informational meeting in Floyd County, for an additional pipeline spur extending north and another going south from the original east-west pipeline and adding 14.1 additional miles, is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, at the Swartzrock Community Center at the Floyd County Fairgrounds.

Summit’s original application for a permit covering about 690 miles of carbon dioxide pipeline through the state was approved June 25 by what was then still the Iowa Utilities Board.

That decision would allow the company to use eminent domain to force easements with landowners who don’t want to participate voluntarily, although the board also set several requirements that must be met before it will give the go-ahead for construction to begin.

The extensions, laterals and branches from the original pipeline would add about 340 additional miles of 6-inch and 8-inch diameter CO2 pipeline in Iowa and would effect 23 counties, including Floyd, Mitchell, Chickasaw, Bremer, Butler and Worth.

Most of the additional pipeline would be to add Poet and Valero ethanol plants that had originally been part of the proposed Navigator CO2 Ventures pipeline project that was canceled last October. It includes the Valero Renewables Charles City ethanol plant 2 miles south of Floyd.

According to Iowa Code, companies proposing to construct a hazardous liquid pipeline – which is how liquid CO2 transport pipelines are classified – must hold an informational meeting in each county with property affected by the project, and are required to notify the owners and/or residents of all property included in the proposed pipeline right of way.

“At informational meetings a representative of the IUB (now IUC) presents a summary of the legal rights of affected landowners, and a representative of the company explains the proposed project. The company cannot begin right-of-way negotiations with landowners until after this meeting, and cannot petition the IUB (IUC) for a permit until at least 30 days after the final informational meeting,” according to the Iowa Utilities Commission.

The informational meeting schedule, listed alphabetically by county, is:

• Adams County – 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26 – Corning Opera House Cultural Center, Corning.
• Bremer County – 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10 – The Centre Hall, Waverly.
• Buchanan County – 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 09 – Hazleton American Legion, Hazleton.
• Buena Vista County – noon Friday, Sept. 20 – Cobblestone Ballroom, Lakeside.
• Butler County – noon Wednesday, Sept. 11 – Greene Community Center, Greene.
• Clay County – 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17 – Occasions, Spencer.
• Fayette County – noon Tuesday, Sept. 10 – Oelwein Coliseum, Oelwein.
• Floyd County – 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11 – Swartzrock Community Center, Floyd County Fairgrounds, Charles City.
• Greene County – noon Wednesday, Aug. 28 – Clover Hall, Greene County Fairgrounds, Jefferson.
• Guthrie County – 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27 – Guthrie County Activity Center, Guthrie Center.
• Hamilton County – noon Thursday, Aug. 29 – Jewell Golf Club banquet room, Jewell.
• Hancock County – noon Friday, Sept. 13 – Viaduct Center, Garner.
• Hardin County – 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29 – Albright’s Bluff, Iowa Falls.
• Ida County – 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 – Cobblestone Inn & Suites, Holstein.
• Kossuth County – 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16 – Eagle Center, Lakota.
• Mitchell County – noon Thursday, Sept. 12 – South Square, St. Ansgar.
• Montgomery County – noon Tuesday, Aug. 27 – Red Coach Inn, Red Oak.
• O’Brien County – 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18 – Primghar Community Building, Primghar.
• Osceola County – noon Wednesday, Sept. 18 – Melvin American Legion Community Building, Melvin.
• Palo Alto County – noon Tuesday, Sept. 17 – Iowa Lakes Community College, Emmetsburg.
• Sioux County – noon Thursday, Sept. 19 – Prairie Winds Event Center, Orange City.
• Webster County – 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28 – Cardiff Center, Fort Frenzy, Fort Dodge.
• Worth County – 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12 – Lanterns and Lace, Manly.