Summit CEO Contacts Iowa Landowners

LINCOLN, Neb. (DTN) -- Iowa landowners along the proposed route for the Summit Carbon Solutions carbon dioxide pipeline are expected to soon see a new right-of-way proposal, the new chief executive officer of the company said in a letter sent to property owners this week, as the company takes a new approach.

Iowa has been the epicenter of an often-contentious debate about the safety of pipelines and whether companies should use eminent domain to complete such projects.

The company's new CEO, Joe Griffin, took over for previous CEO Lee Blank, who held the position for about three years.

Griffin said in the Aug. 5, 2025, letter obtained by DTN that Summit was taking a new direction on several fronts.

"Before long, I believe we'll announce several updates to our business plan that will open new markets and create greater opportunities for the region," he said in the letter.

"As a landowner along the route, we want to work with you closely. You will receive a revised right-of-way proposal in the coming weeks that reflects our commitment to offering terms that better support landowners and their long-term interests. In the meantime, I wanted to introduce myself and set the tone. This is a fresh chapter for Summit Carbon Solutions. We're committed to doing things right, listening carefully and being a partner you can trust."

In November 2024, the Iowa Supreme Court sided with Summit in an appeal filed by Hardin County landowner Kent Kasischke, who argued that the Iowa law that allows companies like Summit to conduct land surveys on private land was unconstitutional.

Summit has proposed building a 2,500-mile carbon pipeline connected to 57 ethanol plants across North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska.

The company continues to face several regulatory hurdles in the states.

Griffin told landowners he was "not afraid to get out in the fields and help alongside the farmers, someone who understands that this project is about more than pipes and technology -- it's about people, land, and communities."

Griffin told landowners that Summit has a new senior leadership team focused on "partnership and respect."

As of Thursday afternoon, the company had not made an official announcement about the new CEO or the members of the new leadership team. In the letter, Griffin said the team has "constructed and/or operated" more than 4,700 miles of pipelines.

"But what I'm most proud of is that we did it safely, working closely with landowners, communities and emergency responders to ensure the safety of all," Griffin said.

"Summit has always had a mission to support farmers, landowners and rural communities by creating new opportunities through carbon management. What's different now is how deeply we're focusing on that mission, along with our vision and values, every single day."

Griffin said the company's vision is "simple": "to be a trusted partner who helps build a strong future for agriculture and rural communities -- one that lasts for generations. And our values -- to protect, innovate, communicate, create value and act with integrity -- aren't just words. They're how we want to show up for you and your neighbors as we move forward."

Griffin said with agriculture facing "tough times" the company was confident that the pipeline project would "add value to all commodities produced in the state by helping biofuel producers become more profitable and by opening access to new markets."

According to information from Summit, Griffin has worked in the natural gas industry for more than 38 years. Most recently in 2023, Griffin co-founded Intensity Infrastructure Partners and served as chief executive officer.

Read more on DTN:

"Iowa Supreme Court Sides With Summit," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

"Pipeline Project Greenlighted in Iowa," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

"SD Supreme Court Sides With Landowners," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Todd Neeley can be reached at todd.neeley@dtn.com

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