DES MOINES, Iowa — “You will be escorted out,” Senator Amy Sinclair shouted as supporters of the Senate’s eminent domain bill chanted ‘Shame!’ when the Senate adjourned until Monday, on Friday evening.

The Senate is waiting to vote on a bill that would block the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines in the state.

In 2021, Summit Carbon Solutions announced plans for a carbon pipeline that would cross through multiple states, including Iowa. Iowans have been fighting against the pipeline since its announcement.

“We’ve been working for four years to try to stop Summit Carbon Solutions and any other carbon pipeline from coming into the state because it’s clear that these projects are all risk for us and reward for the company, and it’s an abuse of eminent domain. It’s dangerous, it’s going to damage our land, and it’s a waste of our public tax dollars,” said Jess Mazour, a Conservation Coordinator with the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club.

James Norris, an Iowan who lives near where the Summit Carbon pipeline would be installed, said he was concerned about the health implications.

“We didn’t like the safety issue. We didn’t like the fact that our neighbor, who has a special needs child and a small acreage, that this pipeline would be 288 feet from their house, 208 feet, and they get no compensation for that risk they’re taking.”

The potential for a vote drew out supporters of the pipeline like Mark Wigans, the President of the Board for Corn, LP, an Ethanol Manufacturer in Iowa.

Wigans said that the pipeline would bring economic benefits for the agriculture industry.

“The biofuels industry is really driven the ag economy in Iowa for the last 20 years and just made tremendous changes in valuations, profitability, jobs. And this is the next step we’ve got. It’s going to open up more markets for Iowa, produce corn ethanol. And those low-carbon markets are the future,” Wigans said.

The Senate will reconvene on Monday and have the opportunity to vote on the eminent domain bill.