Carbon capture and storage, or “CCS,” captures carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at their source and stores them deep underground. The U.S. Department of Energy and the Illinois State Geological Survey have confirmed that the Illinois Basin, given its unique sandstone and shale composition, is perfectly suited to safely and permanently store billions of metric tons of CO2.

That’s why CCS has been hailed by international experts, federal agencies, state leaders, labor unions, and manufacturers as a critical opportunity for our environment and our economy.

The Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act offered critical tools to transition the state’s economy in response to climate change. CCS should play a critical role in that transition while creating jobs and fostering economic development here in Illinois.

Researchers from the University of Illinois estimate CO2 transport and storage will generate $3.3 billion in value for the region and that CCS development could spur the creation of 14,440 jobs, in addition to thousands of additional jobs that decarbonized industries could provide.

Clean Air Task Force calls geologic storage of CO2 “a safe and proven technology” for Illinois that carries little or no risk for our air and water. CO2 pipelines have operated safely in the U.S. for more than 50 years and are regulated by the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). PHMSA enforces comprehensive federal requirements regulating the safety of carbon dioxide pipelines’ design, construction, testing, operation and maintenance, emergency response planning, and more.

Illinois has a chance to be a major player in this emerging industry and take advantage of billions of dollars in private investment and federal incentives, while also reducing emissions and delivering a cleaner environment.

Now is the time to bring carbon capture technology and its benefits to Illinois. It’s time for the General Assembly to act and build a framework that can support a strong and innovative CCS market right here—for our environment and our economy.

Get the facts on CCS and what it means for you:

Learn more about the benefits of CCS and how this technology can contribute to a cleaner environment while ensuring that the Midwest remains the industrial powerhouse it is today.

Learn why legislators in Springfield must pass legislation to allow CCS projects to move forward, specifically by establishing a legal and regulatory framework, including measures to ensure safety and protect landowner rights.

Read more about the science and safety behind CCS, including protections that ensure groundwater, air quality, and our environment are preserved for future generations.

Explore the plans to make Illinois part of the CCS story and what this might mean for landowners, workers, and your community.