19-03-2025
Bill protecting Mahomet Aquifer from carbon sequestration passes House committee
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A bipartisan group of state lawmakers approved a bill that would prevent carbon capture and sequestration projects over the Mahomet Aquifer.
The bill passed the House Energy and Environmental Committee Tuesday night 23-3. The aquifer provides water to more than 1,000,000 people, many of whom are in Central Illinois.
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'We cannot afford to gamble with corporate interests when clean water for over a million Illinoisans is on the line,' Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) said in a statement. 'Carbon sequestration is damaging to communities with limited water sources, and it's big business who's taking home the extra cash. If we don't put protections in place for carbon sequestration, counties will have no economic alternative for safe drinking water.'
Environmentalists said contaminating the water could put lives in jeopardy.
'As the acidity changes in the Mahomet Aquifer, as we release carbon into it, you could suddenly release contaminants that are not leaching or not active in the Mahomet [Aquifer] can suddenly become active,' Andrew Rehn, the Climate Policy Director for Prairie Rivers Network, said. 'Our clean drinking water source could become a unclean drinking water source.'
Advocates for manufacturers argue the state already has enough protections to keep the water safe while doing sequestration projects.
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'When you want to make sure that the the whatever the carbon plume or whatnot is sequester the best way this is the best area,' Donovan Griffith, the VP of governmental affairs for Illinois Manufacturing Association, said. 'This area will not provide any risk to the aquifer.'
The bill now heads to the House Floor. A similar version will also be heard in a Senate committee later this week.
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