The executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association says carbon pipeline legislation has been a big focus of the 2026 Iowa Legislative Session.
Monte Shaw, a supporter of carbon capture and sequestration, says a bill in the Iowa House would restrict the tools ethanol producers need to compete in emerging markets.
“There are competing ideas,” he said. “The second day of session they held a subcommittee on a bill that would basically be a de facto ban on carbon sequestration pipelines in Iowa.”
Shaw says the bill is titled House Study Bill 507.
He tells Brownfield ethanol producers in other states have been benefiting from carbon pipeline projects.
“In Nebraska where they have an operating CO2 pipeline, there has now been a $1.8 billion investment by a consortium of Japanese companies to come tap into that pipeline, pull some of that CO2 out and turn it into a green methanol.”
On Tuesday, the Iowa Senate Majority Leader, Mike Klimesh, introduced a separate carbon pipeline bill that would reform the permit process to be less confrontational. Shaw says the legislation expands the ability to voluntarily negotiate with landowners on 10 miles to either side of the noticed corridor, and requires developers to exhaust all voluntary easement options before eminent domain can be considered.
Shaw says the Senate bill would ensure landowner rights are respected while allowing projects to move forward.
