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(Des Moines, IA) -- As state lawmakers work to cut deals on the budget and other policies in order to adjourn for the year, there's a group of 12 Republican senators pledging to withhold on the budget until eminent domain reform is passed. They don't want eminent domain to be used for carbon pipeline projects, but supporters of those projects say they're being targeted. Monte Shaw is the Executive Director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association.
"The people that are opposing this and that are literally threatening to shut down our government, they're not interested in [compromises]," Shaw said. "They're only interested in bills that would kill the project....we've said anyone who wants to sit down and talk about enhancements to the system that won't actually kill the technology we need to grow the ag economy, we're willing to have that conversation."
He says a carbon pipeline would open the door to new pathways for the ethanol industry and that's why he's in favor of building one. There's a pipeline running in neighboring states like Nebraska which is currently carrying natural gas, but is on its way to be converted for use with carbon.
"Those plants are going to be in a very attractive position come the fourth quarter," Shaw said. "...If I can make 60 cents a gallon more at a plant in Nebraska and it costs me three cents to put the corn on a rail and ship it over there those plants are going to double and triple in size and we're going to see our plants at best hang on by their fingernails and at worst go away."
There's then the topic of eminent domain, which the Iowa Utilities Commission granted a recent project access to. Shaw says over 1,300 landowners have signed voluntary easements with that project--representing a supermajority of those impacted. But pipeline opponents say the use of eminent domain against the rest of them is enough to shut the project down. State Sen. Jeff Taylor (R-Sioux Center) is one of the 12 senators who signed the pledge to hold out.
"They're prioritizing the ethanol industry, the price of corn, a stable business climate. I can understand all those arguments," Taylor said. "But for me, all of those other arguments are trumped by the constitutional standard."
He's referring to the fifth amendment to the US Constitution, which reads "nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." That's open for interpretation because pipelines are privately-owned projects. State Sen. Kevin Alons (R-Salix) is another senator threatening to hold out.
"Eminent domain in this case is being imposed for a project that doesn't meet the general provisions of common carrier, public use, public necessity, or public convenience," Alons said.
Shaw tells WHO Radio News that rhetoric is still targeting the one type of project.
"Wait a minute. There's private oil companies. Your bill wouldn't stop the next Dakota Access Pipeline from being built," Shaw said. "...The only private entities that they don't think should have eminent domain turn out to be CO2 pipelines. When they talk about private property rights and when they talk about the constitution, it's just hard to take that seriously."
Lawmakers continue working without pay as they attempt to reach agreements on eminent domain, next year's budget and other key policies.