This week, the Iowa House passed a bill, HF 565, to protect landowner rights as three major CO2 pipeline projects are in the works in Iowa. This bill gets at the crux of the issue – eminent domain should not be used for private gain. It 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. It also creates an interim study committee that will make recommendations that will improve eminent domain policy in Iowa. It will take a look at the following issues that have been discussed at length throughout this process:
- Standards for entering land for surveying purposes
- Review of land restoration standards
- Review of eminent domain public benefit and private use tests
- Engineering study analysis
- Land compensation practices and procedures
- Iowa Utility Board perspectives
I understand 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 private property rights are respected. We think this bill strikes that balance.This is not about opposing the pipelines, but about opposing the use of eminent domain to construct the pipelines. Pipeline companies should not be able to use the heavy hand of government to abuse landowner rights
This is truly the issue at the epicenter of this problem. Eminent domain should “ never “ be an option for private enterprise. And if revisions are made in adjustment for that purpose then the State of IOWA has clearly forgotten their role as” representatives “ of their constituents.