Carbon sequestration site in Illinois leaked twice, raising water safety concerns

ADM's carbon capture and storage facility in Decatur, Illinois, has experienced two leaks, fueling fears about potential groundwater contamination and the safety of this emerging technology.

Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco reports for Grist.

In short:

ADM's Decatur site, the first commercial carbon sequestration facility in the U.S., experienced two CO2 leaks in 2024.
Despite ADM’s assurances, critics fear the leaks may contaminate local water sources like Lake Decatur, and the company delayed reporting the incidents to authorities.
Local officials and environmental groups demand more transparency and question the long-term safety of carbon capture technology.

Key quote:

“It’s a little terrifying. Because if the operator, in fact, made the wrong decision, and there is in fact a major problem, then not only will local officials not know about it, EPA is not going to know about it, which is indeed what appears to have happened here.”

— Jenny Cassel, senior attorney at Earthjustice

Why this matters:

Carbon capture is seen as vital for reducing emissions, but leaks from storage wells can threaten water supplies. As Illinois expands its sequestration projects, ensuring strict oversight and transparency is critical to protect local communities.

grist.org

Carbon sequestration site in Illinois leaked twice, raising water safety concerns

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