POET has filed a federal lawsuit against officials in Wabash County, Indiana after the county imposed a moratorium on carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects.
The biofuels producer, which operates an ethanol facility in North Manchester, had been planning to develop a CCS project in the region aimed at capturing carbon dioxide from ethanol production and permanently storing it underground.
According to the company, the county’s decision to halt such projects is causing significant financial losses.
Dispute over CCS development
The lawsuit follows a decision by the Wabash County Board of Commissioners in June to introduce an indefinite moratorium on CCS developments within the county.
Carbon capture and sequestration technology involves capturing CO2 emissions from industrial facilities and transporting them to geological storage sites, where the gas is injected deep underground into suitable rock formations for long-term storage.
Supporters view the technology as an important tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from sectors that are difficult to decarbonize.
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In recent years, federal and state governments across the United States, including Indiana, have promoted CCS deployment through policy frameworks, regulatory approvals, and financial incentives.
POET argues that the county’s moratorium effectively blocks the planned project and undermines those broader policy efforts to scale carbon management technologies.
County officials have not publicly commented on the case, citing the ongoing litigation.
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