Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig toured the Homeland Energy Solutions ethanol plant between Lawler and New Hampton last week.
Summit Carbon Solutions wants the facility as its easternmost starting point for its underground carbon capture pipeline, which would then be built west through Chickasaw, Floyd and Cerro Gordo counties. Navigator CO2 Ventures also wants to build a branch of its carbon pipeline starting with the Valero Renewables ethanol plant west of Charles City.
While both companies continue efforts to get landowners along their proposed routes to enter voluntary easements for construction, Naig reminds landowners to exercise their rights during any negotiations with the companies.
While he’s heard comments for and against them, Naig says he thinks carbon pipelines can help extend the value of Iowa corn.
Naig says his recent visit to northeast Iowa also gave him the opportunity to assess early efforts to get this year’s corn crop planted.
As of Monday (May 1), the USDA estimates 29% of Iowa’s expected corn crop has been planted, 11 days ahead of last year, but one day behind the 5-year average.
