A bill is being worked on in the Iowa Legislature concerning private companies using eminent domain. 

Currently, there are three companies wanting to develop an underground carbon dioxide pipeline through Iowa, including Summit Carbon Solutions that would extend 12 miles into Greene County. Eminent domain can happen in Iowa where a company can take away land from a landowner at market price. 

District 24 Senator Jesse Green of Boone says both the Senate and House had bills that died that would’ve changed the current law. However, Greene tells Raccoon Valley Radio a new bill that the House recently passed puts a moratorium on those carbon pipeline companies using eminent domain for ten months.

“That buys us time to research this out more and also make sure that landowners are at ease that nothing is going to happen in the near term.”

Green says current law allows the Iowa Utilities Board to grant eminent domain to private companies, as long as they can show public use and public purpose. He believes this doesn’t go far enough.

“We need to add a third leg to that stool and that is ‘public will.’ And if you can’t at least get ⅔ majority of landowners on board with the project, then I think it’s absolutely ridiculous for eminent domain to be used. That’s what I’m going to try and work on in the off season and talk with my colleagues about as we enter the next session.”    

There was also a protest at the Statehouse in Des Moines on Tuesday of those opposing the use of eminent domain. The bill is now in the Senate for consideration, where Green feels confident they will also pass the legislation.