(Greenfield) Iowa House District #23 Representative Ray Sorensen says a bill that will garner a lot of attention is coming up in the House this week. The Republican from Greenfield says House File 368, spearheaded by Representative Holt, protects landowner rights.
Sorensen says property rights work for people who want the pipeline and those who do not. Sorensen says the pipeline companies should not be able to use the “heavy hand” of the government to abuse landowner rights.
The proposed bill would create additional protections for landowners as three major CO2 pipeline projects are in the works in Iowa. He says the bill would require carbon capture pipeline companies to reach voluntary easements for 90% of the land on their route before they could seek to use eminent domain.
Representative Sorensen says the bill grants landowners the right to sue companies for damages caused by pipelines to drainage, soil compaction, and irrigation systems and would require CO2 pipeline companies to get all necessary permits in other states before attempting to use eminent domain in Iowa.
Sorensen admits this is a heated issue and wants to support the ethanol industry while respecting landowner rights.
