***The Iowa Standard is an independent media voice. We rely on the financial support of our readers to exist. Please consider a one-time sign of support or becoming a monthly supporter at $5, $10/month - whatever you think we're worth! If you’ve ever used the phrase “Fake News” — now YOU can actually DO something about it! You can also support us on PayPal at [email protected] or Venmo at Iowa-Standard-2018 or through the mail at: PO Box 112 Sioux Center, IA 51250

By Paul & Janna Swanson

Summit Carbon Solutions is seeking easements and the right to take the land of thousands of Iowans by eminent domain to “help stop Climate Change.” They want to build 700 miles of pipeline on somewhere between 4242-8500 acres of land to move liquid carbon from 12 ethanol plants in Iowa to North Dakota where they will put it deep in the ground to “keep us all safe”. Well, unless the pipeline leaks which may asphyxiate a few Iowans but it is a risk Summit is willing to take.

How are they going to pay for this venture that has no sale of an end product? They aren’t going to. We will pay for it because the federal government is going to give them enough tax credits to make it worth their while. Tax credits basically are the taxes they do not have to pay- but you do. What is it called when the government takes money from some of the people and gives it to other people for something the free market would never support? That is Socialism.

The best way to fight this pipeline is to not sign a voluntary easement. If you have signed one you have 7 days to change your mind.

Between 2013-2016 we and many other landowners across Iowa and Illinois fought the Rock Island Clean Line. The company needed 1540 easements in Iowa. By 11/10/15 they said they had 194 easements but somehow by 12/5/15 they only had 177. They never received any more easements. Iowans filed 1332 objections at the Iowa Utilities Board. Almost no easements were signed in Illinois.

This is how we stopped the Rock Island Clean Line. Eminent domain is an expensive, time-consuming process for companies seeking to take land. They love to threaten eminent domain but your rights will likely be better protected by eminent domain than the rights the company will confine you to in an easement contract. They will tell you that you will receive more money if you sign their contract but they have no control over the eminent domain process.

Bottom line, do not sign a voluntary easement and please do file an objection. It is simple. Go to the Iowa Utilities Board website. Click on the link “File a Comment or Objection on an Open Docket”, enter your personal information, click on Docket HLP-2021-0001 Summit Carbon Solutions and write your comment. Long or short, it makes no difference as long as you give them your opinion. The IUB will make their decision based partly on those comments, not what was said at meetings.

We must engage in the process until we can wrestle our rights back from the cold grip of an out-of-control government.

Paul and Janna Swanson

Author: Janna Swanson

Janna Swanson helps her husband Paul farm in NW Iowa with their two young daughters. Since 2013 Janna has volunteered her time and energy for her community. She was a key member of the Preservation of Rural Iowa Alliance that protected landowners from the Rock Island Clean Line. From there she helped start and facilitated the grassroots group, The Coalition for Rural Property Rights to help protect community members from industrial wind installations. She is also a board member of National Wind Watch, a 25-year online collection of information of the industrial wind opposition from around the world. Most importantly Janna is a follower of Christ and seeks to help others to know and understand Him. Yet because she is also seeking deepening her own knowledge and understanding she welcomes critical, constructive debate. No one has the corner on truth, we all see “through a glass, darkly”. (I Corinthians 13:12)

Previous articleICI: Post rally update, exemption denial next steps and more!
Next articleThe Democrats’ Next Crazy Ideas in Healthcare
Janna Swanson
Janna Swanson helps her husband Paul farm in NW Iowa with their two young daughters. Since 2013 Janna has volunteered her time and energy for her community. She was a key member of the Preservation of Rural Iowa Alliance that protected landowners from the Rock Island Clean Line. From there she helped start and facilitated the grassroots group, The Coalition for Rural Property Rights to help protect community members from industrial wind installations. She is also a board member of National Wind Watch, a 25-year online collection of information of the industrial wind opposition from around the world. Most importantly Janna is a follower of Christ and seeks to help others to know and understand Him. Yet because she is also seeking deepening her own knowledge and understanding she welcomes critical, constructive debate. No one has the corner on truth, we all see “through a glass, darkly”. (I Corinthians 13:12)

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here