Summit Carbon Solutions Neglects Outstanding Bills, Leaving Counties Holding the Bag

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 21, 2024
Contacts:
Emma Schmit, emma@boldalliance.org
Jess Mazour, jessica.mazour@sierraclub.org

Summit Carbon Solutions Neglects Outstanding Bills, Leaving Counties Holding the Bag

Pipeline company fails at “good neighbor” pitch, fails to pay $60,000 owed to Iowa counties

Des Moines, IA – Following the announcement that Summit Carbon Solutions has fallen behind on thousands of dollars in reimbursements to Hancock County, Iowa, further investigation has uncovered that the Delaware-incorporated company has accrued nearly $60,000 in unpaid bills that are several months old owed to more than half a dozen counties across Iowa. A majority of the delinquent invoices relate to preparatory work completed by county inspectors, which Summit is required to repay.

In one example, Summit has an outstanding bill of $15,000 to Webster County, Iowa. This failure to compensate local communities appears in direct contrast to Summit’s recent claim stating that the company’s proposed carbon pipeline project would provide economic benefits to Iowa counties that would “help schools, improve the area, and support the local townships.”

In response, Dan Tronchetti, a landowner facing the threat of eminent domain by Summit, stated, “We’ve said all along that Summit lacks ethics and integrity, but this is just another slap in the face. During a time where many Iowans are struggling just to survive, there is no excuse for a purported multi-billion dollar corporation to not pay its bills on time. Perhaps if they hadn’t spent so much on purchasing politicians, they could afford to reimburse our counties.”

Landowners and communities across the state are questioning why Iowa would want to do business with an industry that threatens lawsuits, sues counties for passing common-sense zoning ordinance protections, misleads and conceals safety information and is delinquent on bills for work completed on the project.

Richard McKean, a landowner from Emmet, said, “Summit is continuing to prove that they are not a fit company to do business with. Who would want to work with a company that relies on flimsy lawsuits, uncompensated labor, and public misinformation campaigns to reach their goals? Iowa ought to send Summit a final notice for more than just their unpaid bills – their entire carbon pipeline scheme needs to be put on final notice.”

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