
Des Moines, IA- A House committee has approved a bill that outlines a new legal avenue for landowners who don’t want a carbon pipeline to run through their property.
Radio Iowa reports that Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton says that it’s the fifth time the house has introduced a bill to address the ability of developers to gain eminent domain authority to seize ground from unwilling property owners.
“To the landowners that are here today, I will not stop fighting for you. House Republicans will not stop fighting for you and I think you’ll see House Democrats will not stop fighting for you,” Kaufmann said. ” This is a bipartisan issue….and this is now a live round for the rest of the session.”
The bill would give the Polk County District Court authority to review claims from landowners or developers about whether eminent domain authority may be used for any project, including the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions Pipeline.
Representative Chuck Isenhart of Dubuque says he’s not sure the state Utilities Board will make a clear determination on whether Summit’s pipeline is a public necessity and therefore may use eminent domain.
“I think the courts are ultimately are going to be the place where that happens,” Isenhart says, “so why don’t we get about that sooner rather than later?”
The bill cleared the House Ways and Means Committee and is now eligible for House debate.