Tag Archives: Iowa Supreme Court

Climate Activists’ Trial Again Delayed

The Iowa Climate Defenders Five (Todd Steichen, Martin Monroe, Miriam Kashia, Kathy Byrnes, and Ed Fallon) appeared before a judge today only to have the trial rescheduled for November 12 at 1:00 at the Polk County Justice Center, 222 5th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50309. Before the trial, the five held a press conference outside the building.

Iowa Climate Defenders Five go to trial

“Given the absolute urgency of the climate crisis and our concern about a million species that will soon be extinct if we don’t act to reverse this crisis immediately, we felt totally justified to be there and to confront Republican donors and the president himself to take action to address climate change, before it’s too late,” said Miriam Kashia of 100 Grannies for a Livable Future, one of the five arrested.

Court rules against people, planet, property rights

Dear Friends, For those of us who have fought Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) and the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) for nearly five years, today is a sad day. This morning, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that ETP had the right to forcibly take Iowans’ land for an export crude oil pipeline. And make no mistake: DAPL is an export pipeline. While I’ve yet to find anyone, even inside the oil industry, who can tell me exactly how much of the oil is destined for export, it’s Continue reading →

Another win in the courts

Dear Friends, Whew! Just when I was starting to fret about how we pipeline fighters were going to come up with $900 million, a federal judge swoops in and saves the day. Two years ago, Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) sued a whole bunch of pipeline opponents, seeking nearly a billion dollars in damages! On Valentine’s Day (for what that’s worth), District Judge Billy Roy Wilson dismissed the lawsuit. This is a big deal and sends the message that big corporations with seemingly bottomless pockets shouldn’t Continue reading →

ETP lawsuit dismissed by federal judge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 19, 2019 — 1:00 p.m. CT Contact: Ed Fallon at (515) 238-6404 or [email protected] LAWSUIT CITING BOLD IOWA DISMISSED BY FEDERAL JUDGE Allegations against us were absurd, claims Bold Iowa’s leader Des Moines, IA — Bold Iowa’s director, Ed Fallon, today praised US District Court Judge Roy Billy Wilson for his ruling on February 14, 2019, to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) on August 22, 2017, against a handful of organizations, including Bold Iowa, who continue to Continue reading →

IUB holds DAPL accountable on insurance policy

Dear Friends, Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) opponents have had our share of criticism for how the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) has often handled matters. Most important, we feel strongly that the IUB never should have issued DAPL a permit in the first place — and we remain cautiously optimistic that the Iowa Supreme Court will concur when it issues its decision on the landowner/Sierra Club lawsuit. But to give credit where credit is due, today’s order from the IUB (see full text below) is commendable. Continue reading →

First Nation – Farmer Climate Unity March

Dear Friends, After a stormy night, marchers carpooled to the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) for a press conference to announce the First Nation – Farmer Climate Unity March. Though the IUB was closed, we know board members are paying attention. It’s important for them to hear that they made the wrong decision when granting the authority to use eminent domain to build the Dakota Access Pipeline. Most Iowans agree. Iowa law agrees. Soon, we’ll see whether the Iowa Supreme Court agrees. Blessings by Ako Abdul-Samad Continue reading →

First Nation – Farmer Climate Unity March: Day 1

Dear Friends, After a stormy night, marchers carpooled to the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) for a press conference to announce the First Nation – Farmer Climate Unity March. Though the IUB was closed, we know board members are paying attention. It’s important for them to hear that they made the wrong decision when granting the authority to use eminent domain to build the Dakota Access Pipeline. Most Iowans agree. Iowa law agrees. Soon, we’ll see whether the Iowa Supreme Court agrees. Blessings by Ako Abdul-Samad Continue reading →

Why march?

Dear Friends, Truly, it is not possible to overstate the importance of the landowner/Sierra Club lawsuit! Oral arguments will be heard by the Iowa Supreme Court on September 12 at 9:00 a.m. If the plaintiffs win, not only could we stop the oil from flowing through Iowa but we could change the conversation on whether the rule of law has fallen victim to the fossil-fuel giants’ use of eminent domain to expand their private infrastructure. It’s also not possible to overstate the importance of the Continue reading →

Anti-DAPL protestors to march through Story, Boone counties next month

Link to original article: http://www.amestrib.com/news/20180823/anti-dapl-protestors-to-march-through-story-boone-counties-next-month Covered by Ames Tribune, Ames, Iowa, August 23, 2018 Excerpt: By Dan Mika, Staff Writer Climate activists announced a march from Des Moines to Fort Dodge next month to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline at Erickson Public Library Thursday morning. The weeklong march, organized by anti-Dakota Access activist group Bold Iowa, is scheduled to begin on Sept. 1 outside the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) office and will pass through Ankeny, Huxley, Ames and Boone to end Sept. 8 in Fort Dodge. Continue reading →