More Public Pressure on Senate GOP Leaders Over Carbon Pipeline

Nine Senate Republicans, including three from North Iowa, have delivered speeches in the Iowa Senate, each calling on G-O-P leaders to allow debate on bills to preserve the private property rights of Iowans who don’t want the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline on their land. 

Senator Doug Campbell of Mason City says his margin of victory in the 2024 campaign was due to his support of property owners fighting the pipeline.

Senator Sandy Salmon of Janesville has long said the project will not benefit the public, but will benefit the pipeline developer.

Senator Dennis Guth of Klemme urged his colleagues to act for the people.

Senator Jeff Taylor of Sioux Center said it’s unjust and unconstitutional that the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) made the wrong decision when they granted the  company eminent domain authority to seize property for the project.

Senator Tony Bisignano, a Democrat from Des Moines, says Republican leaders haven’t allowed debate of the pipeline-related bills because they are afraid of Bruce Rastetter, founder of Summit Carbon Solutions and a prominent donor to Republican candidates.

Republican Senators Lynn Evans of Aurelia and Dave Sires of Cedar Falls gave speeches last week in support of limiting the use of eminent domain to seize land for the pipeline project. However, Evans has offered amendments that, House Republicans say, vastly reduce the impact of the House-passed bill on protection of property rights. 

*Radio Iowa contributed to this story