SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Gov. JB Pritzker has signed the highly anticipated plan to stop carbon capture and sequestration near the Mahomet aquifer.
This comes a year after community advocates raised concerns that carbon sequestration pipes full of liquid carbon dioxide could leak and contaminate the aquifer.
The Mahomet aquifer is the sole source of water for approximately 800,000 people across Central Illinois.
"I suspect this role call is going to be very bipartisan, and it's for the right reason because water is not political," said Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet). "Water is just not political, and you know we've got Republicans, Democrats, Independents—everybody under the sun, and you can't just flip a switch if you screw this up."
The law will allow One Earth to continue construction of a carbon sequestration plant in the town of Gibson. This deal stopped most of the opposition to the plan.
The Illinois Manufacturers' Association had urged Pritzker to veto the plan. They argue carbon capture and sequestration is a safe and proven technology that is key to maintaining economic growth and decarbonization goals.
"There is a task force that is also included in this bill to continue protecting the aquifer," said Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana). "The task force itself, hopefully with the support of the Prairie Research Network and certainly the Prairie Research Institute as well as other advocacy organizations, will continue to monitor this."
Senate Bill 1723 passed out of the House on a 91-19 vote. It received unanimous support in the Senate.Â
The new law will take effect on Jan. 1.
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