Danny Connolly and Cole Henke
26 minutes ago
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Several bills in the Illinois State House aim to establish regulations for carbon sequestration pipelines, but not everyone agrees on what the new rules should be. isn't it.
Environmentalists are calling for new protections for landowners for companies wanting to build CO2 pipelines, but this comes at odds with several business groups who want the state to continue with the project.
The two points at issue are landowner protection and safety regulations around the pipeline.
At a press conference Wednesday, environmentalists proposed a bill that would change the way real estate is viewed by defining landowners as owning the ground beneath their land and giving them a greater say in underground carbon storage. .
“This bill includes extraordinary measures to protect our health, safety, and environment at every step of the process, including at collection facilities, along pipeline routes, and at quarantine sites,” said Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago). It includes many important regulations.” invoice. “Every step of the process needs to be regulated.”
Environmentalists are also calling for a statewide moratorium until federal guidelines are set for the pipeline. The Rev. Robert Freeman, pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Urbana, is concerned about the number of proposed carbon storage wells and how they would contaminate aquifers.
“The Mahomet Aquifer is the largest aquifer in Illinois, and for many in our community, it is the only option for drinking water,” Freeman said. “If an accident happens, and there will be accidents in the future, right?”
Capture Jobs Now, a coalition of several organizations including the Illinois Manufacturers Association, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois AFL-CIO, and the Illinois Corn Growers Association, issued the following statement in support of carbon capture technology in the state: did.
“Carbon capture and storage is a safe, proven technology that will serve as a critical tool to help the state achieve its clean energy goals, while creating thousands of jobs and fostering economic growth across Illinois.” Lawmakers could pass a moratorium that would hinder the adoption of this technology and hinder the state's decarbonization efforts, especially given the extensive federal regulations already in place regarding carbon capture and storage. makes no sense at all.
We urge lawmakers to instead support HB569, which provides a regulatory framework to promote carbon capture and storage and includes the strongest property protection measures in the nation. This includes establishing ownership of pore space that does not currently exist, restricting access to surface properties, requiring pre-access notification, funding first responders, and compensating for damage caused by surface activities. Masu. Additionally, HB569 also creates a long-term legal and regulatory system for oversight and monitoring of all CCS sites by the State of Illinois, while also retaining liability for damages resulting from non-compliant operations. It also calls for additional consultation with the environmental justice community to address concerns about CO2 storage and the creation of a local first responder fund to pay for training and equipment.
While we agree that CCS technologies must be deployed thoughtfully and carefully, policymakers should slow down progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and risk losing millions of dollars in investment and associated jobs. I'm sure you're tired of suggestions that compromise your business. ”
Capture Jobs Now Union
Last year, Wolf Carbon and Navigator proposed a CO2 pipeline that would be partially located in Illinois, but both companies ultimately withdrew their petitions to the Illinois Commerce Commission.
