Interesting that IRFA's Monte Shaw (Letter to the Editor, April 2, 2026) portrays landowners wishing to protect property rights as “noise.”
He refers to a “supermajority” of landowners who “support” the [Summit] project.
Let's review how that “supermajority” was attained. By state law, public “informational” meetings were held in each affected county. In late 2021, when this project was first announced and promoted at these meetings, most people — including farmers, corn growers, landowners, neighbors, renters and county residents — had no idea what a “carbon capture and sequestration” pipeline or project was. Think back: did YOU know anything about CO2 or CCS in September 2021? Would you have suspected that eminent domain would be hanging over landowners’ heads for this?
We didn’t. Yet, IMMEDIATELY after the conclusion of these “informational” meetings, land agents pushed landowners to “sign here” on easement contracts. At that phase of the project, landowners were told “No matter what happens to the project, you get to keep the money.” “You’d better sign now, because you won’t get as good an offer later.” “You should sign now, otherwise it will go to eminent domain and you won’t get anything.” “You might as well sign; all of your neighbors have.” (Not true!)
Land agents descended on confused and bewildered landowners, took donuts to residents in nursing homes, coerced vulnerable widows, made repeated calls and visits to people who had said no. ( I was one of them — more than 30 phone calls and three knocks on my door — and other landowners were harassed a lot more than I was.)
And before this ever happened, the Governor had appointed her “Sequestration Task Force” and loaded it with lobbyists for Summit, investors in Summit and representatives of utility companies. Also by the time this happened, Summit had made a sweetheart deal with Ames airport for a new hanger (hmmm… what was that about carbon footprint?)
So, the real noise is that this “supermajority” was actually acquired using unethical, intimidating tactics. Once the easements were signed, there was no going back.
Shaw states that “one can oppose carbon sequestration” — which is misleading, because that’s not what landowners oppose. It is the invasion, the abuse of eminent domain that landowners oppose. In North Dakota, the Gevo (formerly Red Trail) plant sequesters its carbon ON SITE — no pipeline needed. In Illinois, ADM has its own sequestration wells. POET is providing zero-carbon bioethanol to NASCAR. All without a pipeline.
As to Shaw’s statement that ethanol plants are expanding in other states: A random check of ethanol plants in Nebraska and Iowa proved that corn prices are as high, and some higher, at the NON-pipeline partnered plants. Numerous reports prove that corn prices are under pressure not because of weak demand, but of record production. Corn exports are surging. Ethanol exports have hit record highs, with exports to more than 80 countries, some specifically to countries with clean fuel programs.
In 2025, Golden Grain paid its fourth highest shares in 20 years; Absolute Energy paid over $5,700 per share in 2025.
Without pipelines.
Kathy Carter, Rockford
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