An Iowa landowner group opposed to Summit Carbon Solutions' carbon capture pipeline surveyed candidates for governor, Congress, and the state Legislature about eminent domain. Fewer than 70 candidates responded, but both gubernatorial candidates said they would ban eminent domain for carbon pipelines and sign such legislation. The survey results are now being used to push property rights questions at candidate forums ahead of the November election. The fight is not just about one pipeline. It ties directly to federal 45Q tax credits, which subsidize carbon capture and sequestration. Some landowners and candidates want those credits eliminated entirely, arguing private companies should not get both public subsidies and the power to take land. The next governor will also appoint Iowa Utilities Commission members, giving the election a direct impact on how future pipeline permits are handled.
