Bold Nebraska

10/19/2026

"With less than three weeks until the midterm elections, Iowa candidates are sharing their positions on eminent domain and carbon pipelines through a survey conducted by Iowa Easement Action. The survey asked five questions about carbon pipelines, property rights, and eminent domain... "The Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club said about 70 candidates, including those in key races, responded to the survey.

Republican candidate for governor Zach Lahn said, "I will sign legislation protecting landowners from eminent domain for private gain." Democratic candidate for governor Rob Sand said, "I will push the legislature to send me a bill banning the use of eminent domain for the carbon capture pipeline, and I will sign it. I would also appoint IUC members that share my views."

During the announcement of the survey responses Thursday, landowners from across the state highlighted the importance of these answers. "Our next governor will be in the position of appointing two members of the three-member commission. When a property rights bill advances to the governor's office, the person in that office will have the power to veto or sign the legislation into law," said Deborah Main.

Jessica Mazour, conservation program associate for the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter, said, "If you look at a candidate and how they stand on property rights and on the carbon pipeline issue, you'll have a good idea of how they stand on any issue."

U.S. Senate candidates also participated in the survey.

Democrat Josh Turek said, "I will always fight for Iowans' property rights. We cannot allow property rights to be trampled by private corporations, particularly for a project that will further an already severe water quality crisis."

Independent candidate Thomas Laehn said, "I will propose legislation to eliminate sections 45Q and 45Z of the Internal Revenue Code. I will also propose legislation, pursuant to section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment, prohibiting the use of eminent domain unless it is for a bona fide public use."

Candidates for state and county elections also responded to the survey. You can find the answers on this database."

Ahead of the midterm elections, Iowa candidates shared their views on eminent domain through a survey conducted by the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter.

10/16/2026

“Today, Iowa landowners released the results of a Property Rights Candidate Survey to help voters understand which candidates support property rights, which candidates don’t, and which candidates didn’t care enough to complete the survey about one of the top issues in the state,” the Iowa Easement Team reports.

“The survey, sent to candidates for US Senate, US House, Governor, State Legislature and some county-level races, consisted of 5 simple questions about their beliefs on eminent domain for carbon pipelines, property rights, and how they will govern, if elected.

Landowners received responses from 66 candidates, including Gubernatorial candidates Zach Lahn and Rob Sand, US Senate Candidate Josh Turek, 40 State House Candidates, and 9 State Senate.

“I am happy to see so many candidates on our side, but what stands out most are those that didn’t fill it out, and won’t go on the record. Eminent domain, carbon pipelines and property rights are one of the biggest issues in the state. Their silence speaks volumes - especially those who have voted against us in the past.” said Pat Mennenga, Bremer County Landowner.

“There are lots of candidates out there claiming to support property rights, but I think just about everyone could say that. The devil is in the details. Do they support eminent domain for carbon pipelines, what have they done to help so far, and are they willing to stand up to leadership if they are elected? That’s what Iowans and landowners have been demanding for over 5 years.” said Don Johannsen, Cherokee County Landowner.

“The Governor’s race is so important because they can direct the legislature to put our eminent domain bill on their desk and sign it, unlike Governor Reynolds in 2025. This Governor also has the opportunity to appoint two new Iowa Utilities Commissioners (IUC) – who we believe were Governor Reynolds’ and Summit’s political appointments – midway through the Summit hearing process.

The next Governor must meet with us about who should be appointed to the IUC and should make those appointments before the hearings on the Ida and Floyd dockets take place in February and March, respectively,” said Kathy Carter, Floyd County Landowner.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 15, 2026 Iowa Landowners Announce Results of Candidate Survey on Property Rights  Many Iowa candidates support removing the power of eminent domain for carbon pipelines; concerns remain about candidates who didn’t respond to the survey Des Moines, IA.

10/16/2026

“A group of Iowa landowners opposed to a carbon sequestration pipeline say the issue of property rights is still “one of the biggest issues in the state of Iowa” though fewer than 70 candidates on the upcoming ballot responded to a questionnaire about eminent domain,” the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports.

“Kathy Stockdale, a landowner affected by the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline and vocal opponent of the project, said the leaders of the state “must stand up in opposition to this risky land grab.” “It’s time for individual landowners to stop bearing the burden of keeping this multibillion-dollar company accountable,” Stockdale said in a news conference Thursday. “Our elected leaders need to do their jobs and stand up for the constitutional rights of the people they represent.”

“...Landowners sent a five-question survey to candidates for governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, state Legislature and several county level races, asking if the candidates believed eminent domain should be used for carbon capture pipelines, what they have done, and what they would be willing to do, to protect private property rights in Iowa…

“Emma Schmit, an organizer with Bold Alliance, told the Dispatch that if the names and party affiliations of the candidates were hidden from the responses, readers “wouldn’t really be able to tell what party they were from.”

“Everybody that answered gave very similar responses of ‘No, this is unconstitutional; No, I don’t think this pipeline should go through,’ and so it just goes to show that there was really, I think, bipartisan support, and it’s really just a matter of right versus wrong,” Schmit told the Dispatch…

“Deb Main, a Woodbury County landowner, told the Dispatch Iowa representatives in Washington, D.C., need to have the “courage to end the 45Q tax credit for carbon pipelines.”

Fewer than 70 candidates on the upcoming Iowa ballot responded to a questionnaire about eminent domain and CO2 pipelines.

10/13/2026

Go Vote Today! Get details on Early In-Person voting at your County Election Office, research what's on your ballot, and make a plan to vote ==> https://VoteTodayNebraska.com

Nebraska! I’m gonna need you to GO VOTE TODAY.

10/13/2026

Go Vote Today! Get details on Early In-Person voting at your County Election Office, research what's on your ballot, and make a plan to vote ==> https://VoteTodayNebraska.com

10/09/2026

Bold issued the following statement after a North Dakota District Court today ruled for landowners and counties in a case challenging the approval of a permit for Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed CO2 pipeline by the North Dakota Public Service Commission:

“Landowners and counties across North Dakota have spent years defending their rights from being usurped by an out-of-state pipeline company. The court’s decision is an encouraging step in ensuring landowners and communities, not pipeline interests, are protected,” said Emma Schmit, Bold Alliance Organizing Director.

Burleigh County South Central Judicial District Judge Jackson J. Lofgren’s ruling overturned the PSC on four significant issues:

+ reversed the PSC’s determination that the state’s pipeline permitting law automatically superseded and preempted county land use and zoning ordinances with direction to reevaluate them in accordance with law;

+ ordered the PSC to reconsider the confidentiality of Summit’s CO2 plume dispersion model;

+ reversed the PSC’s finding that Summit adequately addressed an alternative route south of Bismarck; and

+ directed the PSC to reconsider whether the pipeline project would produce minimal adverse effects on the welfare of the citizens of North Dakota.

As a consequence, PSC will need to reopen its administrative evidentiary hearing to reconsider the foregoing matters, a process that could extend well into 2027.

It is unclear how Summit will respond, given South Dakota’s prohibition on the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines that has blocked Summit’s route between Iowa and North Dakota, and the impact of a related North Dakota court decision that found the state’s carbon storage law unconstitutional. Today’s decision is a further headwind for Summit’s beleaguered CO2 pipeline project.

Bold’s Easement Teams in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and North Dakota have been organizing landowner opposition to the Summit CO2 pipeline for years. Bold’s Easement Teams are helping fund attorneys who have represented landowners at agency hearings that resulted in pipeline permit rejections in North Dakota and South Dakota, and the most-contested project in the history at the Iowa Utilities Commission, where landowners with the Iowa Easement Team also continue to challenge Summit’s pipeline route approval in the courts.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 9, 2026   Court Sides With N.D. Landowners, Counties Challenging Summit Carbon Pipeline, Reverses Permit and Remands to Public Service Commission Court orders N.D. PSC to […]

10/08/2026

On Thursday morning, ahead of the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) Meeting, landowners held a press conference to address recent happenings at the IUC.

Over the past two weeks, the IUC issued orders denying Iowa landowners the ability to intervene in the permitting process and setting the hearing dates for proceedings in Ida and Floyd counties for February 23 and March 23, respectively. Currently, Summit has failed to obtain voluntary easements for nearly 77% of parcels on the Ida and Floyd routes.

Landowners argued that no hearing should be scheduled while Summit’s original permit is being appealed in District Court and the company has failed to commit to a specific end location or end use for the carbon dioxide.

Earlier this week, Governor Reynolds appointed former state representative Jon Dunwell to the IUC, a move landowners call one-sided and stacking the deck with pro-eminent domain people. As a legislator, Dunwell voted against a bill to remove the powers of eminent domain for carbon pipelines.

Landowners also shared that they have been conducting a Property Rights Survey with candidates running for office and will release the results next week. The survey includes answers from candidates running for Governor, US Senate, US House, State Legislature and County Supervisor.

This election is important. The Governor and legislature will have the opportunity to appoint two new IUC Commissioners and pass a bill to remove the powers of eminent domain for carbon pipelines. The consequences of this election will determine if we can save our land and property rights from greedy, for-profit corporations.

Watch the Property Rights Press Conference here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1JsJpbsFzc

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 8, 2026 Iowa Landowners Call Out IUC Appointee and Recent Intervention Denials, Announce Property Rights Candidate Questionnaire Des Moines, IA. — On Thursday morning, ahead of […]

10/08/2026

In case you missed it: Watch the webinar recording of "Nebraska Landowners Meeting: Summit CO2 Pipeline - Know Your Rights"

Have you heard about the dangerous Summit Carbon pipeline proposed across the state of Nebraska? WHAT: Landowners Meeting: Know Your Rights! WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 6:00 p.m. CT Summit Carbon Solutions would have to use eminent domain to route a dangerous pipeline carrying carbon dioxide (CO2)