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- This week, House Republicans moved a bill forward to create additional protections for landowners as three major CO2 pipeline projects are in the works in Iowa.
- This bill:
- Requires carbon capture pipeline companies to reach voluntary easements for 90% of the land on their route before they could seek to use eminent domain.
- Grants landowners the right to sue companies for damages caused by pipelines to things like drainage, soil compaction and irrigation systems.
- Requires CO2 pipeline companies to get all necessary permits in other states before attempting to use eminent domain in Iowa.
- This bill has passed subcommittee and is still making its way through the process. Many of the ideas in the current language were brought to the legislature by the Iowa Farm Bureau.
- I understand that this bill may not be seen as perfect by folks on either side of this issue. We want to support the ethanol industry while ensuring landowners rights are respected. We think this bill strikes that balance.
- Ultimately, property rights work both ways – for folks that want the pipeline and folks that don’t. However, these pipeline companies should not be able to use the heavy hand of government to abuse landowner rights.
