Legislation to Protect Land Owners and Move Forward CCUS Projects in Iowa Introduced by Iowa Senate Majority Leader

Sen. Klimesh bill seeks balance for landowners and Iowa's future

Press Contact: Hannah Love

515-322-0435

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh today introduced a bill designed to address concerns about carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) projects in the state. The bill reforms the permit process to be less confrontational, expands the ability to voluntarily negotiate with landowners on 10 miles to either side of the noticed corridor, and requires developers to exhaust all voluntary easement options before eminent domain can be considered.

Combined, these provisions will allow developers to reach more voluntary easements with landowners, ensuring landowner rights are respected while allowing projects to move forward.

"Sen. Klimesh's bill to reform the Iowa Utilities Commission permit process will improve flexibility, giving projects more opportunities to find landowners willing to sign voluntary easements," commented Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. "While the bill is not perfect, it is a reasonable and pragmatic approach to dramatically improve the current process, which is unnecessarily rigid and confrontational. IRFA supports Sen. Klimesh's bill. Everyone should. We will also continue to support additional solutions that enhance landowner protections while ensuring Iowa farmers have the infrastructure they need to access new and emerging markets."

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The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association represents the state's liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth. Iowa is the nation's leader in renewable fuels production with 42 ethanol refineries capable of producing over 5 billion gallons annually - including 34 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity - and 8 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 408 million gallons annually. For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: www.IowaRFA.org .