SEPTEMBER 3, 2024:
The Iowa Utilities Commission has found that Summit Carbon Solutions has substantially complied with the requirements of a June 25, 2024, order regarding the company’s application for a hazardous liquid pipeline permit. Last week, the IUC issued the permit. The order doesn’t modify the conditions Summit Carbon must establish in order to start construction. On June 25, the IUC issued its final decision and order regarding Summit Carbon’s petition for a hazardous liquid pipeline permit. As a part of its decision, the Commission required Summit Carbon to make several compliance filings with the IUC. Summit Carbon filed the compliance filings required by the IUC on August 5. The filings included revised petition exhibits. The pipeline will cross over 2,000 miles in five states, including 70 miles in Iowa. In planning the pipeline, Summit partnered with 57 ethanol plants and signed voluntary easement agreements with 75 percent of Iowa’s landowners along the route.
JULY 9, 2024:
Summit Carbon Solutions got approval from the Iowa state regulators for its carbon dioxide pipeline system it wants to build in the state. Summit wants to move forward with expansion requests for that system beginning in late August. Documents filed with the Iowa Utilities Commission show proposed public informational meeting dates for 23 counties that would take about four weeks to complete. The first meeting would be on August 26, 2024. The company must hold those meetings in the affected counties before it can negotiate with landowners for easements and file petitions for permits to build the extensions. The 14 proposed offshoots to additional ethanol plants from Summit’s initial proposal would increase the system size in Iowa by about 341 miles, or 50 percent. Summit can’t start laying pipe in Iowa until it obtains permits in the Dakotas. The company can use eminent domain in Iowa to force agreements with unwilling landowners.
JUNE 25, 2024:
The Iowa Utilities Board has announced their approval (June 25, 2024) of Summit Carbon Solutions base pipeline project (HLP-2021-0001). This approval represents a significant milestone not for just Summit Carbon Solutions, but for the entire agriculture industry as it seeks access to new and emerging markets, like sustainable aviation fuel, by lowering ethanol’s carbon intensity score (CI).
This comes on the heels of successful reapplication hearings for its Summit’s North Dakota pipeline permit in front of the North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC).
“The momentum will continue as we prepare to file our South Dakota permit application in early July,” said Lee Blank, CEO of Summit Carbon Solutions. “We look forward to engaging with the state throughout this process and are confident in a successful outcome.”
Summit Carbon Solutions is partnering with 57 ethanol plants across five states and has signed voluntary easement agreements with 75% of Iowa landowners along this route. The company will continue to work with landowners every day.
In reaction to the announcement, American Carbon Alliance CEO Tom Buis issued the following statement:
“The Iowa Utilities Board should be commended for handling the pipeline proceedings fairly, transparently, and in accordance with Iowa law.
“This decision was the right one and will be transformative for the ag industry and Iowa’s economy. Capturing Carbon to lower the carbon index to open new markets such as Sustainable Aviation Fuels and higher blends for American consumers is the greatest opportunity for farmers since the buildout of the ethanol industry.
“The Summit Carbon pipeline will lead to increased demand for corn, benefiting farmers and increasing farm income, and stimulating economic activity for ethanol plants and ag-related business. This is a huge win for the future of rural America, for American consumers, and for America’s energy independence. Hopefully other states will also move forward quickly.”
JUNE 3, 2024:
A North Dakota Supreme Court ruling favored Summit Carbon Solutions, a pipeline company currently in a dispute with landowners over the right to access properties to survey the land. The decision affirms a lower court ruling that the pipeline company didn’t need permission from landowners before they accessed property to determine a possible route for the company’s carbon pipeline.
Yahoo says some landowners refused to grant Summit access to survey their property as Summit continues trying to build a carbon capture pipeline. Summit says it’s secured over 80 percent of its proposed North Dakota route through voluntary easements, but some landowners refused. North Dakota law doesn’t require written notice to landowners for survey access and allows crews access for projects that would benefit the public to show up at any time. Attorneys representing the landowners say the owners should get compensated, and written notice should be required upfront before getting access.
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