July 18, 2024 – Governor JB Prizker signed nation-leading carbon capture legislation into law Thursday at the National Sequestration Education Center on the campus of Richland Community College. The Governor was joined by lawmakers and representatives from a coalition of business, environment and labor sectors in the signing of Senate Bill 1289, which secures long-term safety protections while benefiting from the growing carbon capture and sequestration industry.
The law, which takes effect immediately, sets environmental safety requirements at each stage in the carbon capture process—at the capture facility, via pipelines, and at sequestration sites. The law requires carbon capture companies ensure there is no increase to dangerous air pollution and requires carbon capture companies to demonstrate a net reduction in climate pollution. In addition, the law establishes an up to two-year moratorium on carbon dioxide pipelines while awaiting federal safety and oversight rules.
The law also holds sequestration site operators at standards above and beyond US Environmental Protection Agency requirements. Under Senate Bill 1289, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Illinois Fire Service Institute, Office of State Fire Marshal, and the Illinois Department of Public Health must create training to prepare enhanced local emergency response plans. Additionally, the law requires corporations to monitor sequestration sites for a minimum of 30 years after the last carbon injection.
Governor JB Prizker said Illinois is setting a national safety and environmental protection standard in Carbon Capture. “It’ll not only help reduce emissions but drive investment in our state. With my signature on the Safe CCS Act, we’re leading the charge in the fight against climate change.”
Opponents to Senate Bill 1289 argued that the legislation posed too many significant risks, particularly when it comes to potential groundwater contamination, carbon dioxide leaks or ruptures of the pipelines.
However, coalitions and organizations from the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, to the Illinois Manufacturers Association, to the Sierra Club are applauding the new law as taking critical steps in environmental protections.
Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition stated “We applaud Governor Pritzker for signing the Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) protections bill into law and are grateful for his Office’s work this spring to achieve strong environmental protection in this bill. The safeguards secured in SB1289 are urgently needed – multiple corporations are currently targeting Illinois for carbon waste disposal, and this law takes critical steps toward ensuring Illinois communities and our land and water are protected from the risks associated with CCS.”
“Without this bill, Illinois is unprepared and unprotected from the growing interest from industry to pursue CCS, and it’s urgent now more than ever that we have the strongest possible safeguards in place for taxpayers, landowners and our environment,” said Christine Nannicelli, Senior Campaign Representative with Sierra Club Illinois. “SB1289 includes some of the strongest carbon capture protections in the nation and makes sure industry plays by our rules.”
“The bill begins to address some of the greatest safety threats from carbon capture and sequestration projects and offers nearby communities necessary protections from potential leaks and disasters,” said Jenny Cassel, Senior Attorney at Earthjustice. “By ensuring that operators remain financially and legally responsible for maintaining sequestration sites long after carbon injection ends, the SAFE CCS Act deters companies from cutting corners.”
“We are grateful for Governor Pritzker’s leadership on this bill,” said Illinois Environmental Council executive director Jen Walling. “Thanks to Governor Pritzker and the efforts of hundreds of activists across the state, Illinois now has some of the strongest carbon capture and sequestration protections in the nation.”
“This law smartly and safely advances carbon capture and storage in Illinois, which will help increase economic development, advance our clean energy goals and create new jobs,” said Mark Denzler, President and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “It will also allow us to unlock important new technology, such as sustainable aviation fuel, which is key to a greener transportation sector…This is proof that by working together, we can decarbonize our environment without deindustrializing our economy.”
