Navigator pulls plug on Heartland Greenway

Pipeline canceled

The development of Navigator CO2’s pipeline project has been challenging. Given the unpredictable nature of the regulatory and government processes involved, particularly in South Dakota and Iowa, the Company has decided to cancel its pipeline project”

Navigator Oct. 20 press statement

LEE COUNTY –  A little more than a month after saying it was postponing its pipeline project, and just over two weeks after saying a new plan would be put forth in the spring, Navigator Co2 is pulling the plug on its pipeline project that would have run through four states including Iowa, and Lee County.

According to a release from the pipeline company today, the project has been canceled.

“The development of Navigator CO2’s pipeline project has been challenging. Given the unpredictable nature of the regulatory and government processes involved, particularly in South Dakota and Iowa, the Company has decided to cancel its pipeline project,” the release indicated.

Matt Vining, CEO of Navigator CO2 remarked, “As good stewards of capital and responsible managers of people, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Heartland Greenway project. We are disappointed that we will not be able to provide services to our customers and thank them for their continued support.

 “I am proud that throughout this endeavor, our team maintained a collaborative, high integrity, and safety-first approach and we thank them for their tireless efforts. We also thank all the individuals, trade associations, labor organizations, landowners, and elected officials who supported us and carbon capture in the Midwest.”

Navigator faced stiff local, state, and nationwide opposition to the project that would have captured carbon dioxide from ethanol and fertilizer plants in Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Minnesota with the intent of piping it to central Illinois where it was to be injected deep into the rocky caverns of the earth.

Residents in Lee County posted fierce opposition to the pipeline that would have run as close as 1,000 feet to a senior living center in West Point, and would have required extensive eminent domain acquisition of easements in the county.

In a filing with the Iowa Utility Board on Oct. 4, the company requested hearings be canceled until the project could be revised with new filings expected in March. Those plans have been canceled as well.