To the Editor,
Plans to expand ethanol plants and pipeline routes across Iowa seem to ignore the fact that we are still locked in a serious drought that doesn’t seem to be letting up any time soon.
Summit Carbon Solutions is setting out to expand carbon capture from 13 ethanol plants to 25. These projects will require massive amounts of water.
Does Summit prioritize the needs of the people living in our towns and communities against their expanding demand for water resources? If their requests for water permits are approved, they will take almost 1 billion
gallons every year.
Many communities are already anticipating water shortages this Spring and Summer. Clark County is already under a water restriction for households and fines are given if it is exceeded. Should we expect Summit to be fined for excessive water usage if permits are approved?
Expansion of the number of ethanol plants and pipeline routes will require serious scrutiny by the Iowa DNR because there have not been adequate rules and regulations in place to protect Iowa’s water quality and resources. The water quality of our rivers, lakes and streams- and that includes sources of drinking water- are threatened by run-off from agricultural inputs and exasperated by drought. This will impact the sustainability of rural communities.
The state of Iowa needs to reprioritize the value of Putting People before Profits that drain limited water resources and threaten the sustainability of our towns and communities. I’m asking Iowans to reach out to Kayla Lyon at the Department of Natural Resources and say that water permits for Summit’s CO2 pipeline route are not a beneficial use. That’s kayla.lyon@dnr.iowa.gov.
Cherie Mortice
Des Moines
