Summit begins outreach for expansion pipeline; both sides more informed this time around

A map of the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline through Iowa. The purple line represents the company’s expansion project. (Map courtesy of Summit Carbon Solutions)

Summit Carbon Solutions, the company planning to build a massive carbon sequestration pipeline through Iowa and surrounding states, spent the past several weeks in community information meetings around the state about its proposed expansion. 

Affected landowners and folks in opposition to the project have attended the meetings too, many of them with long lists of questions and concerns for the Summit Carbon representatives.

The company followed the same process to get the initial project, comprising more than 680 miles of pipeline in Iowa alone, approved by the Iowa Utilities Commission in late August. This time around, however, landowners are more informed about the project, meaning both sides can move the conversation beyond just logistics.

“The first time we did this, it was a project introduction,” said Summit Carbon Director of Community Relations Sabrina Ahmed Zenor. “Now there’s a better understanding of the project, so we get to tell ‘the why’ a little more because ‘the how’ is understood.”

The meetings began Aug. 26, and concluded Sept. 20, with Summit and representatives from the Iowa Utilities Commission having visited the 23 counties that would be affected by the 330 additional miles of pipeline from the second phase. 

Ahmed Zenor said the company is leaning into the community benefits of the project, and telling the stories of Iowa farmers and biorefineries. The company provided county specific slides at the meetings with estimated tax benefits from the project. 

“We believe that we need to tell the story of the benefit this project brings, and that’s what we’re starting with across the board,” Ahmed Zenor said. 

The expansion would connect the pipeline to an additional 17 biorefinery facilities in Iowa. The whole project, which would transport sequestered carbon from ethanol refinery plants to underground storage in North Dakota, would connect to a total of 57 refineries across five states. 

Emma Schmit, the Pipeline Fighters director for Bold Alliance, said opponents to the pipeline are better placed to fight the expansion, because of all they learned from Summit Carbon’s presence over the past two and a half years. 

“This is a fairly unfamiliar technology to the world, and so we were really just flying by the seat of our pants there for a while, but now we have been able to correct that,” Schmit said. 

Schmit said the Bold Alliance strategy advocates for landowners to become educated about the project and to evaluate what is best for their families — though she hopes that means they refuse to sign an easement agreement. 

“We’re here to help defend and protect and stand with landowners, not just stop pipelines,” Schmit said. 

Summit Carbon can use eminent domain to get its remaining easements for phase one of the project, but cannot begin construction in Iowa until the project is approved in the Dakotas.

Following the informational meetings with the utilities commission, Summit Carbon can begin to survey the land and acquire voluntary easements for phase two of the project.

“That is always when people kind of come rushing to us,” Schmit said. 

Land surveyors have permission to survey private land, provided they have given proper notice, but Schmit said landowners may deny access and require a court injunction. She urged landowners to follow the surveyor while they are on their property.

“Ask questions, take notes, all that good stuff,” Schmit said. 

Schmit and Ahmed Zenor said the meetings have been well attended in the communities. Many community members and local officials have lined up at the microphone with lists of questions and complaints toward Summit Carbon. 

“There’s definitely a lot of tension in those rooms,” Schmit said. 

Landowners asked questions about water usage, pollution and who would be responsible if a leak occurred in the pipeline. Summit Carbon Solutions had team members from various departments available to answer questions and explain the project.

“We like to lead in fact, and we truly believe that once someone understands the facts, that we can reach a point of being able to have an open dialog,” Ahmed Zenor said. 

“The point of these meetings is to introduce ourselves to the landowners who are within our corridor, and for them to understand their rights … We believe that is happening in a productive way.”