Page 4 - aruba-today-20240626

A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 26 June 2024
Midwestern carbon dioxide pipeline project gets approval in

Iowa, but still has a long way to go

By JACK DURA provals from North Dakota
Associated Press and South Dakota, includ-
Iowa public utility regula- ing for routes in both states
tors on Tuesday approved and underground storage
a controversial carbon di- in North Dakota. Summit
oxide pipeline for transport- also needs approvals from
ing emissions of the climate- Minnesota and in Nebraska
warming greenhouse gas before it can begin to build
for storage underground lines out to ethanol plants in
in a win for Summit Carbon those states.
Solutions' project after set- The Iowa regulators' decision
backs in other states and comes after hearings last
opposition from landowners year and setbacks in other
around the Midwest. states. North Dakota regula-
The company still has many tors denied a siting permit in
hoops to jump through be- August, but later agreed to
fore it can begin building reconsider. Hearings on the
in Iowa, including gaining underground storage pro-
other states' approval. posal were held earlier this
The $5.5 billion, 2,500-mile month.
(4,023.36 kilometers) pipeline South Dakota regulators de-
network would carry planet- nied Summit's application
warming CO2 emissions, liq- in September; Summit said
uefied under pressure, from it plans to file again in early
more than 50 ethanol plants July. In Nebraska, where
in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebras- Summit must work with indi-
ka, North Dakota and South A sign reading "Property rights matter, no CO2" stands near Strasburg, N.D., Jan. 11, 2024. vidual counties, at least one
Associated Press
Dakota to be stored deep county has denied a permit.
underground in central ize their fuel. Carbon cap- potential pipeline rupture said. The Iowa panel also grant-
North Dakota. ture and sequestration gets could release dangerous The Iowa Utilities Board ap- ed the company the right
Farmers and the ethanol Iowa ethanol into that mar- CO2 gas. A coalition oppos- proved Summit's January of eminent domain over
industry see the pipeline as ket, potentially providing a ing Summit's project vowed 2022 application for a per- numerous parcels of land,
a way to qualify for federal generational boost to Iowa's to fight the Iowa board's mit to build and operate but only after the permit is
tax breaks they see as key economy," Iowa Renewable decision. the pipeline. But before the issued. The extent of Sum-
for growing a market for a Fuels Association Executive Landowner attorney Brian board issues the permit, the mit's eminent domain pow-
cleaner-burning aviation Director Monte Shaw said in Jorde said the decision was company must file proof of ers wasn't immediately clear
fuel. Corn is among the top a statement. expected, with a lengthy an insurance policy of at from the 500-page order.
two crops in the Midwest, Summit CEO Lee Blank wel- process for Summit still least $100 million to pay for The board denied use of
and Iowa is the leader in comed the decision in a ahead, such as applying in any damages resulting from some parcels of land; oth-
corn and ethanol produc- statement. South Dakota. the pipeline project. Summit ers require modifications to
tion. The project's opponents, in- "It's just one small thing in a must provide proof of the in- the route. Eminent domain is
"Whether you think it's smart cluding many landowners, maze, in a track-and-field surance annually. the taking of private land for
or silly, the world's largest fear their land will be taken event full of hurdles that they The company also can't start public use with compensa-
airlines want to decarbon- for the pipeline and that a have to get over," Jorde construction until it has ap- tion for landowners.q

Lawmakers in a New York county pass transgender athlete ban

after earlier ban is thrown out in court

athletes from playing on A judge ruled in May that ed "lies!"
girls' and women's teams Blakeman had issued his or- Blakeman had said his ear-
at county-owned facilities der "despite there being no lier ban was meant to pro-
after a bid to restrict trans corresponding legislative tect girls and women from
athletes by executive order enactment" providing him getting injured while com-
was thrown out in court. with such authority. Blake- peting against transgen-
The Republican-controlled man is now expected to der women. It would have
Nassau County Legislature sign the bill into law. affected more than 100
voted 12-5 on Monday to The New York Times reports sports facilities in the county
bar trans athletes from play- that transgender advocates on Long Island next to New
ing at county-owned facili- packed Monday's meet- York City.
ties unless they compete on ing holding signs that read Blakeman's executive or-
teams matching the gender "trans women are women." der was challenged by
they were assigned at birth Republican Legislator John. state Attorney General Le-
or on coed teams. R. Ferretti Jr. said the bill was titia James, who issued a
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, at podium, speaks The move followed Republi- not a transgender ban since cease and desist letter, and
during a news conference, March 6, 2024, in Mineola, N.Y. can County Executive Bruce trans women would still be by a women's roller derby
Associated Press Blakeman's Feb. 22 execu- able to compete, just in league, the Long Island
MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) — A New York City has voted tive order attempting to en- men's or coed leagues. Roller Rebels, which filed a
county legislature outside to bar transgender female act a similar ban. Audience members chant- lawsuit over the ban.q