This week, the Wright County Board of Supervisors reviewed a resolution objecting to the Iowa Utilities Board’s authority to enact eminent domain within the county for privately owned and operated carbon dioxide pipelines.
Supervisor Dean Kluss stated he has worked with the chairman of the Shelby County Board of Supervisors on issues related to proposed carbon capture pipelines. Shelby County passed a similar resolution in May. Kluss summarized the resolution during the Wright Supervisors meeting on Monday.
*Kluss #1
“Therefore be resolved that the Board of Supervisors of Wright County under the authority of Iowa code 331.301(1), to exercise any power and perform any function that deems appropriate to protect and preserve the rights, privileges and property of the county and its residents and to preserve and improve the peace, safety, health, welfare, comfort and convenience of its residents based on the findings of the Iowa Supreme Court in the Puntenney v. Iowa Utility Board, the Wright County Board of Supervisors finds in fact that they are not limited by Iowa Code 331.301(1) to be inconsistent with the laws of the General Assembly in protecting and preserving private property takings utilizing eminent domain due to the lack of public purpose, where in this case the sole purpose is private economic gain by Summit Carbon Solutions and affiliates. Therefore, the Wright County Board of Supervisors objects to the use of eminent domain for private economic gain and urges the Iowa Utility Board not to grant Summit the use of eminent domain for this project.”
The Wright County Board of Supervisors then approved the resolution as presented.
