A group of nearly 40 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. That includes Representative Cindy Golding, who represents Mount Vernon and Lisbon and other areas of rural Linn County. While Linn County is
not impacted by the Summit pipeline, other pipelines have been proposed that would have gone through rural communities in Iowa.
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, noted the Republican lawmakers. 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 indicatethat more than 80 percent of Iowans are opposed to the pipelines.
“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 commu- nities throughout Iowa. The lawmakers argue that safety concerns, particularly for densely populated areas, have been largely overlooked and require immediate legislative and judicial review.
Mark Cisneros, who represents House District 91, spoke in opposition to the pipeline at the press conference. Cisneros noted he isn’t from Floyd County or other counties impacted in the lawsuit, but the use of eminent domain impacts all Iowans.
“If they can use eminent domain to steal someone else’s property, they can use it to take mine,” Cisneros said. “Even if this doesn’t impact me right now, I want to get ahead of this and be on the right side of this fight.”
The Republican lawmakers have also had several meetings 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 when the new legislative sessions begin. 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.”
Work has also went to continue fights in North Dakota and South Dakota over the pipeline. Former U.S. Representative Steve King spoke about the status of the project in those areas at the press conference.
“They say they have permission to dig, but they don’t have a permit for this pipeline,” King said. “The project is tied up in litigation in North Dakota and they have no route through South Dakota at this time.” 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.
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, RepresentativeLuana Stoltenberg, Representative Henry Stone, Representative Mark Thompson, Representative Charles Thomson, Representative Skyler Wheeler, and Representative Derek Wulf.
Additional reporting from the press conference provided by Nathan Countryman.