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Iowa regulators issue permit for Summit’s CO2 pipeline

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Iowa regulators issue permit for Summit’s CO2 pipeline


Construction cannot begin in the state until the Dakotas OK the project

The Iowa Utilities Commission held its evidentiary hearing for Summit Carbon Solution’s pipeline project starting in August 2023 in Fort Dodge. (Lily Smith/Des Moines Register via AP)

The Iowa Utilities Commission has issued a permit to Summit Carbon Solutions to construct and operate a carbon dioxide pipeline system in the state.

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That issuance, granted Wednesday, was mostly a foregone conclusion after the commission announced in June the project met state requirements, pending some revisions to the initial proposal.

Summit wants to build a 2,500-mile pipeline network in five states to transport captured carbon dioxide from nearly 60 ethanol plants to North Dakota for underground storage.

About half of those ethanol sites are in Iowa. The new permit covers the company’s initial request to build about 690 miles of pipe. Summit is seeking further permits to expand the project by more than 350 miles in Iowa.

“The pipeline will grow markets and work with ethanol partners to drive economic growth, supporting the long-term viability of our farmers and rural communities,” said Sabrina Zenor, a Summit spokesperson.

The project would make Summit and the ethanol producers eligible for federal tax incentives that reward the sequestration of carbon dioxide and the production of low-carbon fuels. The ethanol industry is a key market for crop farmers — more than half of Iowa’s corn is used to produce the fuel.

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Zenor said sustaining that demand for corn is critical, especially now when corn prices are low enough to make growing the crop potentially unprofitable. Corn’s current value is about half of its recent peak in 2022. Ethanol producers who connect to Summit’s project could sell their fuels in low-carbon markets in other states and countries, or to be used to produce sustainable aviation fuel.

The commission said in its Wednesday order that Summit has “substantially complied” with the requirements laid out in June, and that any remaining discrepancies “can be addressed after the issuance of the permit.”

A condition of the Iowa permit is that Summit cannot start construction until it has approval from state regulators in the Dakotas. Both states have rejected the company’s initial proposals. North Dakota is reconsidering an amended pipeline route, and Summit has not yet filed a new permit application in South Dakota.

The South Dakota Supreme Court recently overturned lower court rulings in favor of Summit in regard to land surveys, and in that decision justices questioned whether the project is eligible to use eminent domain to acquire easements.

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Summit wants to use eminent domain to force unwilling landowners to host its pipeline. Without it, the project would be imperiled.

The Sierra Club of Iowa, a leading opponent of the project, decried the commission’s permit approval given the uncertainty in the Dakotas and the court challenges that are expected in Iowa.

“This is unbelievable,” the Sierra Club said in a statement Thursday. “It’s a permit to nowhere.”

Comments: (319) 368-8541; jared.strong@thegazette.com

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Des Moines lands an alternative radio station, hitting airwaves with favorites, Iowa music

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Des Moines lands an alternative radio station, hitting airwaves with favorites, Iowa music


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MTV launched on Aug. 1, 1981, playing “Video Killed the Radio Star” by the Buggles just after midnight. On Thursday, just after midnight, a new alternative station took over the airwaves, kicking off its new era with “Capricorn” by Vampire Weekend, who just played Hinterland in early August.

The alternative music station on 94.1 FM and on 88.9 FM in the Bondurant/Mitchellville area features music made in Iowa, hosts based in Iowa, and music alt fans want to hear, according to a news release from Iowa Public Radio, the parent company.

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“Those are three things that are harder and harder to find in the current music and radio landscape,” said Jordan Bahnsen, marketing manager at Iowa Public Radio.

Which alternative bands will 94.1 play?

Fans can expect to hear a mix of ’90s, ’80s, and new music encompassing “alternative, indie and rock in all its eras so there’s a little something for everyone, played every hour,” Bahnsen said. Think Arctic Monkeys, Hozier, Father John Misty, Modest Mouse, Jack White, the Police, Echo and the Bunnymen and the Talking Heads, for starters.

“We’ve been working for months to revamp the sound of Studio One to give Iowans more of the music they want,” Al Schares, music program director at Iowa Public Radio, said in a news release.

Fans can also expect to hear local music, such as The Nadas, as well as live sets recorded at music venues throughout Iowa.

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Des Moines is no stranger to the alternative music scene and makes a nice stop for bands rolling through town to play bigger cities surrounding it. In recent months, the Des Moines metro has seen the likes of The Pixies and the Smashing Pumpkins play Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee, the Violent Femmes at Water Works Park, and Greta van Fleet and the Avett Brothers at the Iowa State Fair. Hinterland brought alternative artists such as Chappell Roan, Hozier and Vampire Weekend to St. Charles. Cage the Elephant plays Wells Fargo Arena in September.

More: These are some of the biggest concerts near Des Moines in 2024, from Slipknot to Alabama

Who are the deejays behind 94.1?

So far, the lineup for talent on the radio includes:

Where to listen to 94.1

The new signal is part of Iowa Public Radio’s Studio One format, currently heard on IPR News and Studio One stations.This new station marks first time Studio One will be heard around the clock on broadcast radio.

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The new sound airs on 94.1 in Des Moines and, in select hours, on 13 IPR News and Studio One stations across the state. It’s also available online at iprstudioone.org and in the Iowa Public Radio and Studio One apps.

Des Moines had an alternative station, ALT 106.3 FM, that flipped formatting to a sports station in 2020.

Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.





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Kamari Moulton Emerges for Iowa Football

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Kamari Moulton Emerges for Iowa Football


Kamari Moulton’s name at the top spot of Iowa’s running back depth chart was one of the attention-getters when the notes for the Hawkeyes’ season opener against Illinois State were released.

But coach Kirk Ferentz said on Tuesday he expects everyone on the depth chart — Moulton, Leshon Williams and Kaleb Johnson — to get carries in Saturday’s game at Kinnick Stadium.

“The other guys have done a good job too,” Ferentz said. “I feel pretty good about the group. I’m eager to see them play, and Kamari especially, we haven’t really seen him go in game activity.”

Williams, Iowa’s leading rusher last season, has been dealing with a nagging injury during training camp, which was one of the reasons Moulton made it to the top of the depth chart, Ferentz said.

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“It’s more a by-product of what’s going on,” Ferentz said. “Leshon missed some time. He’s had an injury that nagged pretty much throughout camp, so Kamari got a lot of work this August.

“The other component there is Kamari’s done a nice job. I mentioned that or alluded to that back in December. He started to look comfortable and did a lot of good things, did a good job in the spring and has just been consistent all the way through August.”

Moulton, a redshirt freshman, played in four games for the Hawkeyes last season, the minimum appearances allowed by the NCAA for a player to retain his redshirt year. He had eight carries for 50 yards and two touchdowns.

“Kamari is an awesome dude,” quarterback Cade McNamara said. “He’s a real energetic guy. He’s definitely one of the favorites on the team and me, the rest of the guys, can’t wait to see what he does.”

Ferentz said Moulton’s confidence has grown in the offseason.

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“He’s had a great attitude since he’s been here,” Ferentz said. “He’s got good vision. He’s bigger and stronger physically than he was certainly a year ago, year-plus ago when he got here. All that’s good, and that’s one of the benefits of experience. Happy about that. He’s got a tremendous attitude, but he’s got a real good vision, a good ability to see things that maybe other guys can’t see, and that’s been pretty consistent.”

Moulton’s play on the scout team during practices last season also gave Ferentz an indication of what was to come.

“It really started showing in December when we were doing more work with the guys,” Ferentz said. “He’d been on the scout team most of the time last year. It seemed like he was maybe a guy who could pop through here a little bit. I think he’s certainly done that in August.”

McNamara said Moulton’s consistency was a big factor in his play during camp but, like Ferentz, expects there to be plenty of carries for everyone.

“Overall, the running back room, in general, there’s going to be a lot of dudes playing,” McNamara said. “There’s a lot of talent in that room. And the way our (offensive) line is playing, we’re just excited to see what they can do.”

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“Again, I envision us playing a lot of the guys in the group,” Ferentz said. “Max White’s done a good job, too. I feel like it’s a good group that way. We’ll just kind of see how it plays out as we keep going forward. History would say you can never have too many backs, that’s for sure.”



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‘Send code!’: Iowa State men’s basketball title rings reference ‘Among Us’

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‘Send code!’: Iowa State men’s basketball title rings reference ‘Among Us’


The Iowa State Cyclones’ Big 12 championship rings include a rather suspicious detail.

The most prominent elements of the hardware highlight all the usual bells and whistles of a team celebrating a title. There are the red and gold colors and retro logo that pay homage to the Cyclones’ brand. There’s a “23-0 at Hilton” line, referencing the team’s undefeated record at the Hilton Center, as well as in Kansas City (“Hilton South”) and Omaha (“Hilton West”) in the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments.

And then there’s the video game character.

The video game “Among Us” rose to fame in 2020, bolstered by interactive elements suitable for a socially distanced world. The game’s player base has declined since, but it never went away completely — certainly not in Ames, Iowa.

Iowa State would use the game as a means of team bonding on road trips throughout the season. The animated character graphic is accompanied by the text “Send code!” a phrase used by the Cyclones to signify the start of a new game.

Iowa State men’s basketball will set out to defend its conference crown and undefeated home record on November 4, when the team opens the season against Mississippi Valley State.

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