CO2 pipeline technology is safe and useful

• Richie Schmidt is president of International Union of Workers Local 177 in Des Moines.

As president of Local 177 of the International Union of Workers, I have had the privilege of representing the workers who have built pipeline systems throughout Iowa and the country. Having worked in this capacity for years and seen this work up close, I feel compelled to respond to the 9/11 Registry story on the security of carbon capture pipeline systems, which, from my perspective, was misleading.

After:Builders swear CO2 pipelines will be safe. Worried Iowans talk about a rift in Mississippi.

First, there seems to be a perception that pipelines are underutilized, when in reality these networks are extensive and help keep our economy moving. In the United States, there are 3.3 million miles of pipeline in service today, the equivalent of traveling from earth to the moon nearly 14 times or circling the world 132 times. There are over 45,000 miles of pipeline in Iowa alone, giving families and businesses access to the energy they need. Pipelines are essential infrastructure, and our country simply could not run a modern economy without them. Let us not pretend that the construction, materials or operation of proposed pipelines in the Midwest are in any way new.

Additionally, pipeline systems are safe, and this is especially true of carbon capture pipelines that use long-standing, reliable and proven technologies. Today, dozens of ethanol plants capture CO2. There are thousands of miles of CO2 pipelines that have been running for over 20 years without a single fatality. Geological storage has been studied by policymakers, engineers, etc., and they have found it to be an effective and safe method for the permanent sequestration of carbon dioxide emissions. No one can plausibly claim that this technology – carbon capture, CO2 transport or CO2 storage – is somehow new or hasn’t been used in years. It is simply wrong.

Another view: We have researched and oppose CO2 pipelines

Pipelines are also highly regulated to ensure their safety. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), part of the United States Department of Transportation, has detailed and comprehensive regulations to govern the construction and operation of any pipeline system. These regulations are continually evaluated and updated based on data to determine where new rules are needed. Rules regarding pipeline depth, weld inspection, maximum distances between isolation valves, and more are set by PHMSA and overseen by its team of experts to ensure compliance. Any insinuations or outright claims that these systems lack oversight to ensure security are simply not true.

What is new about these pipelines are the broad benefits that will accrue to the people of Iowa. These projects will allow ethanol producers, who are so essential to our economy, to sell their product in the growing number of states and countries that pay more for low-carbon fuels. This is critical because the ethanol industry buys nearly 60% of all the corn grown in Iowa and helps ensure strong commodity prices and land values ​​year after year. These multi-billion dollar investments will source local suppliers and help local businesses generate economic growth. And the companies developing the projects will pay tens of millions of dollars in new property taxes each year to help communities support critical local priorities like education, healthcare, infrastructure, public safety and more.

I hope Iowans will come together to support proposed carbon capture projects in the state because they are good for our economy, good for our environment, and as someone who has been involved in pipeline projects for years , safe above all. .

Richie Schmidt is president of International Union of Workers Local 177 in Des Moines.