Farmers and landowners in Iowa have had mixed reactions to Governor Kim Reynolds’ veto of a bill that would have limited the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines.
“Eminent domain is not good for rural Iowa, said Lee Tesdell, a landowner from Slater.
Tesdell says the governor’s veto is disappointing.
“The CO2 pipeline would be supporting the corn ethanol industry, which I believe in the long-term is not good for agriculture,” Tesdell said.
Kelly Nieuwenhuis of Primghar tells Brownfield the legislation would have ignored the rights of those who are in favor of pipelines. He says he was an early supporter of the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline.
“This has been a project that has been in the works for five years,” Nieuwenhuis said. “It would have been a bad decision to change the rules mid-stream here.”
Marty Maher in Page County says landowners needed House File 639 to protect their land from private entities.
“The purpose of eminent domain is the right of government, not a private entity, to take private property for public use,” Maher said. “For. Public. Use.”
Lance Lillibridge of Vinton says he doesn’t necessarily support eminent domain, but he was in favor of the governor’s veto because of the economic benefits the proposed Summit pipeline could bring to the state.
“If it happens someplace else, that’s not going to be good for Iowa,” Lillibridge said. “We’re just going to lose basis, and we’re going to lose production of ethanol.”
Meghan Sloma in Sioux County says Governor Reynolds chose to support the Summit pipeline over the rights of landowners.
“She had to balance my right to have autonomy over my family’s century farm,” Sloma said. “And, she had to consider Summit’s right to engage in a risky startup that involves taking our land by eminent domain.”
Kevin Ross of Minden tells Brownfield the veto was needed because the legislation was misguided.
“There were several other provisions in the bill that would be detrimental long-term for the state of Iowa,” Ross said. “Not just CCS (Carbon Capture and Sequestration) projects but I think for different products as well.”
Peg Rasmussen in Montgomery County says the governor’s decision opens to the door for land to be taken from producers.
“Unlike what Governor Reynolds says, I don’t believe that reasonable people disagree on when property should be allowed to be taken by a for-profit company,” Rasmussen said.
Iowa House Republicans are calling for a special session to override the governor’s veto. Two-thirds of the State Legislature would have to sign a petition to implement a special session.
