A group of nearly 40 Republican lawmakers on Sept. 10 announced their plan to file lawsuits against the June decision of the Iowa Utilities Commission, all of whom were appointed by Republican governor Kim Reynolds, to approve Summit Carbon Solution’s Phase 1 carbon dioxide pipeline.
Sen. Jesse Green, who represents Greene County as part of the 24th Senate district, is among those Republican lawmakers. Rep. Carter Nordman, who represents Greene County as part of the 48th House district, is not among them.
The following press release was provided by that group, the Intervenors:
Today, a group of nearly forty Iowa Republican lawmakers announced their plan to file lawsuits in state and Federal courts asking for rulings that the Iowa Utilities Commission’s approval of the Summit pipeline project is illegal and unconstitutional. The IUC’s June decision, which has sparked outrage across the state, has been condemned as not only disastrous and dangerous but also a clear violation of the rights of Iowa landowners.
The pipeline project has raised serious ethical and Constitutional concerns, particularly regarding the potential safety risks it poses to Iowans living in cities such as Charles City, Waverly, and surrounding communities. The Intervenors have taken a firm stance against the Commission’s decision, asserting that it prioritizes corporate interests in tax credits over the safety, property rights, and well-being of Iowa’s citizens. Recent polls indicate that more than 80 percent of Iowans are opposed to the pipeline scheme.
“The Iowa Utilities Commission’s approval of this project is a gross overstep of authority, trampling on the rights of our landowners and putting the safety of Iowans at risk,” said State Rep. Charley Thomson, a leading member of the Republican Legislative Intervenors. “This CO2 pipeline is not only unethical but unconstitutional, and we will not stand by while the safety of our citizens is jeopardized.”
The Republican legislators’ lawsuits argue that the decision was made without proper consideration of Constitutional requirements and of the severe negative impact the project will have on landowners and communities throughout Iowa. The lawmakers argue that safety concerns, particularly for densely populated areas, have been largely overlooked and require immediate legislative and judicial review.
The Republican lawmakers have also had several meetings in recent days to discuss strategy concerning possible new legislation to reform Iowa’s eminent domain system and to correct deficiencies in the statutes governing the functions of the IUC. Their goal is to create stronger statutes defending private property rights and better ensuring the safety of communities.
“We are determined to fight this reckless decision in the courts and in the General Assembly,” added Rep. Thomson. “This isn’t just about stopping one pipeline. It’s about safeguarding our communities, our land, and our Constitutional rights from future overreach.”
The Intervenors encourage Iowans to stay engaged in this critical issue and to support efforts to ensure that landowner rights and citizen safety are prioritized over corporate gain.
There will be a press conference on this matter at 3:00PM on this Wednesday, September 10, outside the Floyd County Memorial Hospital in Charles City, Iowa. All members of the press are encouraged to attend.
The Intervenors include Senator Kevin Alons, Senator Rocky De Witt, Senator Lynn Evans, Senator Jesse Green, Senator Dennis Guth, Senator Mark Lofgren, Senator David Rowley, Senator Sandy Salmon, Senator Jason Schultz, Senator Jeff Taylor, Senator Cherielynn Westrich, Representative Eddie Andrews, Representative Brooke Boden, Representative Steven Bradley, Representative Ken Carlson, Representative Mark Cisneros, Representative Zach Dieken, Representative Dean Fisher, Representative Dan Gehlbach, Representative Thomas Gerhold, Representative Cindy Golding, Representative Helena Hayes, Representative Bob Henderson, Representative Steven Holt, Representative Heather Hora, Representative Thomas Jeneary, Representative Bobby Kaufman, Representative Joshua Meggers, Representative Anne Osmundson, Representative Bradley Sherman, Representative Jeff Shipley, Representative Luana Stoltenberg, Representative Henry Stone, Representative Mark Thompson, Representative Charles Thomson, Representative Skyler Wheeler, and Representative Derek Wulf.
