Summit Carbon Pipeline proposes to build and bury 33.45 miles of CO2 pipeline through O’Brien County. There are no participating ethanol plants in O’Brien County according to the most recent information provided. There are 2 Mainline Valves located within the county and 1 just to the east in Clay County. The proposed route enters O’Brien County at B46, a local road 420th Street, east of Yew Avenue. The route shifts slightly north near White Avenue and continues westward just south of 410th Street.
The Mainline Valves are mapped at 420th Street and L48 (Redwing Avenue) and at Olive Avenue and 420th Street. This Mainline Valve is at an intersection with a north/south pipeline from Little Sioux Corn Processors Ethanol Plant near Marcus.
Kaylee Langrell attended the meeting on April 11 to update the board. She claimed that 80% of easements in O’Brien County, 27 miles are signed. She stated that the goal is 100% voluntary. The Iowa legislature passed rules requiring 90% voluntary easements before eminent domain can be used for this project. Langrell further reported that the statewide voluntary easements are at 67.85% in miles. The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) moved the hearing from October to January. The move, according to Langrell, delays construction start, assuming the project acquires sufficient easements, to Spring 2024.
A question about new ethanol plants signing on was asked. Langrell said there are no new ethanol plants on this pipeline but a jet fuel plant proposed for near Kingsbury, SD is developing plans for location to do so.
Langrell admitted that CO2 is a danger to human life as an asphyxiate and referencing the CO2 pipeline explosion in Sartartia, MS. She explained the CO2 in that pipeline was not “clean.” That CO2 was used to help push oil from shale (fracking) and contained other chemicals in addition to the CO2.
Safety regulations issued by PHMSA (pipeline hazardous materials safety administration) are under significant examination. Langrell was asked if Summit would be “grandfathered” if it was constructed before new safety regulations were issued. She rejected a grandfather condition saying Summit would have to meet any new regulations. She recognized that would require the pipeline developer to dig up completed sections of pipeline to retrofit as needed. She said they are trying to stay ahead of regulatory changes before construction.
Questions about the pressure the gas would be under compared to other pipelines were asked. This pipeline project 2200 psi to liquefy the CO2 for transport through the 24-inch pipes. She was unable to provide comparison data.
Carbon pipelines proposing to buy the collected carbon dioxide are selling the project as necessary for ethanol sales to grow in places such as California by meeting increasingly difficult pollution control environments. The pipeline makes some money from the contributing plants putting CO2 into the pipeline. More money from the sale of tax credits is likely the more valuable asset for CO2 pipelines, a currency that average people cannot participate.