By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

On March 25, Lee Blank, CEO of Summit Carbon Solutions, shared information related to the company’s plans to build a pipeline to transport carbon dioxide from ethanol plants to a storage location underground in North Dakota.

Carbon capture and sequestration/storage (CCS) is the process of capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) formed during power generation and industrial processes and storing it so that it is not emitted into the atmosphere.

Blank shared an overview of the project.

“It’s really three projects in one,” said Blank. “The front of the project is capture, where we’re capturing CO2 off the ethanol industry, and now 57 ethanol plants have signed with us across the entire system… Then there’s a transport piece, which is the piece that you probably hear most about. That’s the pipeline… The third piece is the sequestration piece, and that’s in North Dakota, where we’ll be sequestering the CO2 under the cap rock.”

One significant challenge in such a project, according to Blank, is picking the right route for the pipeline. He explained that the proposed route is picked by first using a software system called Pivot, which considers geographic and demographic and other data to determine a proposed route. The final route is then determined through discussions with the applicable landowners. Because of this, Blank said the route can change literally thousands of times.

“We’ve worked really hard to find ways to accommodate that landowner, because we want to be a good partner and a good neighbor,” said Blank.

Some details on the expected timeline were shared as well.

“We anticipate actual operations in 2026, probably the second half of the year,” Blank said.

This timeline allows for public information and individual meetings.

“We’ll have to go through public meetings…before we can actually be addressing the landowner,” Blank said. “We haven’t exactly set the time for those meetings. We believe they’ll be in June and early July.”

More information is available at https://summitcarbonsolutions.com.

Special to the Times Vedette

Registration is now open for the Introduction to Planning and Zoning for Local Officials workshop, available across multiple locations in Iowa. Offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the workshop is tailored for local officials engaged in city and county governance, planning, zoning, and community development. It focuses on delivering foundational knowledge in land use planning and development management.

Workshop dates and locations

• April 2 – Fairfield Arts and Convention Center, Fairfield
• April 4 –  O’Reilly Center, Creston
• April 11 – Carroll County Extension Office, Carroll
• April 16 – Best Western Holiday Lodge, Clear Lake
• April 18 – Holiday Inn Council Bluffs, Council Bluffs
• April 22 – DoubleTree Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex, Cedar Rapids
• April 25 – Hotel Winneshiek, Decorah
• April 30 – Hilton Garden Inn Des Moines/Urbandale, Johnston

Workshop highlights

• Tailored content for local government officials
• Interactive scenario-based learning
• In-depth coverage of Iowa zoning laws and practical applications
• Discussions on comprehensive planning, ethical dilemmas, special uses, variances, etc.
• Networking opportunities at a dinner event

Pricing details

• Standard rate: $65 per participant for a three-hour session
• Group rate: $55 per participant for group bookings of three or more from the same organization

For more information and accommodation requests, contact Luke Seaburg at seaberg@iastate.edu.

Special to the Times Vedette

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Community and Economic Development Program is offering a skill-boosting workshop for grant writers working on a grant-eligible project proposals. “Workshopping Your Proposal from Start to Finish” is designed for individuals working on a fundable project and offers real-time insights from experienced grant writers.

Dates and locations

• Lenox: March 21, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Register at https://go.iastate.edu/PAVIAD
• Boone: April 3, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Register at https://go.iastate.edu/2PDJR3
• Hiawatha: April 23, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Register at  https://go.iastate.edu/SUZAC9

Registration details

• Deadline: Two days before each session
• Fee: $75 per session

Requirements

• An active project or program for grant funding.
• A laptop or tablet for interactive proposal development.

Special to the Times Vedette

The Bonnie and Clyde road races will be held Saturday, April 20.   

Events include a 5-mile run/walk that starts at 9 a.m. at the Dexter City Museum at 719 Marshall St. in Dexter. Cost is $35 through April 12 and $45 through April 18. The  race will proceed onto White Pole Road to Stuart (about 5 miles).

A 1-mile run run/walk will also be held at 9:30 a.m. and starts at the former First National Bank in Stuart. The run will finish at the same site. Cost is $30 through April 12 and $35 through April 18.

New this year is a 10-mile bicycle ride that will start at 9:15 a.m. at the former First National Bank in Stuart. The ride will finish at the same site. Cost is $35 through April 12 and $45 through April 18. Bicyclists are required to wear helmets. 

Results will be tabulated immediately following the events, and awards will be handed out by the former First National Bank in Stuart. Bad weather location will be at Rock Island Railroad Depot.

Overall male and female and 1st, 2nd and 3rd places for each division of each event will be recognized with medal.

Age divisions for the run/walk are as follows: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and 80-plus.

Age divisions for the bike ride: 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and 80-plus.

Souvenirs will be handed to all finishers.

The races are sponsored by Stuart Revitalization and honor the victims of Bonnie and Clyde from 90 years ago. Register at https://secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=MTcwNzMxODUyNjAwODHKbQuxiXkFEE3O

Special to the Times Vedette

The ACGC All School Reunion will be July 5-7, 2024. A planning meeting for the reunion will be held Monday, April 8 at 7 p.m. in the library at the high school. Committee members will provide updates on the schedule of events. The final registration packet will be ready for class representatives to get to their classmates. Class representatives are still needed for 1991, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2022 and 2023. Some of the packets will be mailed out that evening as well.