A new Des Moines Register /Mediacom Iowa Poll shows that 78% of Iowans oppose private companies using eminent domain as a means to force private landowners to sell access to their property for business use and profit.
Despite the large majority opposed to the process on both the Republican and Democratic sides, the projects seem to be pushing forward. On Tuesday, the Iowa Utilities Board heard from the attorneys representing two companies which hope to build carbon dioxide pipelines as they try to work out scheduling issues for their permit requests.
IUB chair, Geri Huser asked Wolf Carbon Solutions attorney, Amanda James, if they still plan to request a hearing on the project in the second quarter of 2024.
Huser told James the Board does not believe there needs to be oral arguments on the location of the hearing, which is required to be near the middle of the area where the pipeline will be built.
Navigator Ventures attorney, Samantha Norris was also asked about the timeline for the hearing.
Norris says they would like to start construction in the first half of 2024 if approved. She was also asked about taking oral arguments on the proposed site for the hearing on the pipeline.
Summit Carbon Solutions is the third company proposing a pipeline, with a public hearing on the project set for October.
