State utility regulators have approved a public meeting schedule starting in late August, in which Summit Carbon Solutions will present its significant proposed expansion for its carbon dioxide pipeline system.
Summit is looking to add ethanol plants previously associated with the Navigator CO2 Ventures including Valero Renewables near Charles City and Poet Bioprocessing near Shell Rock.
The company’s initial network of pipe in the state — which runs a total of about 690 miles — was recently approved by the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC), although Summit is barred from starting construction until it has permission to build the system in North and South Dakota. The system might capture carbon dioxide at ethanol plants in five states and transport it to North Dakota for underground storage.
The expansion in Iowa includes about 340 miles of pipe to connect to more ethanol plants. It is the result of Summit inking new agreements with more ethanol producers after another company, Navigator CO2, abandoned its plans for a similar project. Summit has said it has agreements with 30 of the state’s 42 ethanol plants, which also includes Absolute Energy near St. Ansgar.
Public hearings on the IUC calendar include:
— Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. in Buchanan County: Hazleton American Legion, 105 Hayes St. West, Hazleton
— Sept. 10 at noon in Fayette County: Oelwein Coliseum, 101 First St. SW, Oelwein
— Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in Bremer County: The Centre Hall, 1211 Fourth St. SW, Waverly
— Sept. 11 at noon in Butler County: Greene Community Center, large room, 202 W. South St., Greene
— Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. in Floyd County: Swartzrock Community Center, Floyd County Fairgrounds, 2516 Seven Mile Road, Charles City
— Sept. 12 at noon in Mitchell County: South Square, 202 S. Washington St., St. Ansgar
— Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. in Worth County: Lanterns and Lace, 3586 Orchid Ave., Manly
— Sept. 13 at noon in Hancock County: Viaduct Center, 255 U.S. Highway 69, Garner
— Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. in Kossuth County: Eagle Center, 401 Smith St., Lakota
**story courtesy Iowa Capital Dispatch
