Many Story County leaders, elected and unelected, have expressed support for the carbon capture and sequestration plans by an Ames-based company. Summit claims an economic boost and sustained financial gain for producers of the grain all the way to the local school through increased tax dollars. It sounds too good to be true.
Questions:
1) Private companies have little reason to invest in this plan if not for using the yet to be borrowed from us taxpayers $1.2 trillion dollars from the “Build Back Better” bill. Is this really infrastructure improvement? Pipelines carrying concentrated liquid across private property for an as yet unproven environmental fantasy? Ask Alabama or Michigan residents what infrastructure means and they’ll likely answer safe water.
2) What is the long-term effect on farmland being disturbed?
3) What is the plan for a leaking pipeline as has already occurred in rural Satartia, Mississippi?
4) What benefit is carbon sequestration to the world’s health? According to 1100 scientists and professionals who signed a World Climate Declaration, this is no climate emergency. Carbon pipeline representatives are playing with emotions.
5) If this pipeline is so safe, why are counties passing moratoriums on pipelines carrying dangerous materials? For example, South Dakota’s McPherson County supervisors passed a stoppage to hazardous liquid transmission in January of 2022. The county held public forums with the supervisors for the people to speak. Multiple counties have done the same. When will Story County Supervisors do the same for us?
6) Why is investment firm Blackrock funding the public relations for Summit? How much tax money is really available? Where is pushback to China’s massive coal expansion or Russia’s burning millions of oil barrels?
7) There will be no market for “Clean” ethanol with electric vehicle mandates (California). Why the rush?
It is shameful to see republican leaders pushing an agenda that conflicts directly with the GOP stated goal: “Our platform is centered on stimulating economic growth for all Americans.” This pipeline does nothing but line a few pockets and raise debt for future generations.
- Laura Carlson
Story County
