Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack's son joins pipeline company

Jess Vilsack has taken a job as the general counsel of Summit Carbon Solutions, Mother Jones reports.

Catch up fast: Summit was started by GOP "kingmaker" Bruce Rastetter. The Ames-based company has proposed a $4.5 billion carbon capture pipeline project that would cross 30 Iowa counties, including Polk.

• Vilsack is the son of former Iowa Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack, who is the current U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary.

Why it matters: Summit will rely on ethanol-friendly policies that Tom Vilsack has advocated for during much of his political career.

• Jess Vilsack's new gig could potentially obligate his dad to recuse himself from decisions that directly affect the pipeline project, Mother Jones reports.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to remove a reference to a Jan. 7 Iowa Utilities Board meeting that was misattributed to the proposal.