The Illinois Senate voted 55-0 on Thursday to prohibit carbon sequestration projects near the Mahomet Aquifer, a critical water source for nearly one million Central Illinois residents.
The move comes after years of warnings from environmental groups and community leaders concerned that underground carbon storage could threaten the region’s drinking water.
The aquifer supplies much of McLean County and surrounding areas.
Carbon capture, a process that traps and stores carbon dioxide underground to combat climate change, remains controversial. Supporters tout it as a key emissions-reduction tool, while critics question its safety and effectiveness, especially after a series of leaks in Decatur.
State Sen. Chris Balkema, who represents parts of Bloomington-Normal, said protecting the aquifer outweighed the potential benefits of carbon capture technology.
“I am all for protecting water,” Balkema said. “I am for protecting the aquifer, and I think it’s a wise thing to ensure that we are not drilling or putting any type of carbon anywhere near that.”
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Balkema, initially undecided, said he was intrigued by carbon capture’s promise to convert CO2 into sustainable jet fuel.
However, he ultimately concluded the risk of carbon sequestration to the Mahomet aquifer was too great. He added that he supports further research into safer carbon capture methods located away from sensitive water supplies.
Environmental groups largely backed the bill, though some expressed frustration after lawmakers narrowed the protected area.
The final version restricts carbon storage only within the Mahomet sole source aquifer zone, rather than the broader project review area that originally included parts of Bloomington-Normal and neighboring counties.
Read more: Illinois Senate Pauses Carbon Injection Ban Amidst Concerns
