SPRINGFIELD, IL (Chambana Today) – In a major move to protect one of Illinois’ most vital water sources, the General Assembly on Tuesday passed Senate Bill 1723, which bans carbon sequestration over, under, or through the Mahomet Aquifer, a critical drinking water source for up to 1 million residents in central Illinois.

The bipartisan legislation, championed by Sen. Paul Faraci (D-Champaign) and Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet), comes in the wake of recent scrutiny surrounding a carbon dioxide leak at ADM’s Decatur site. Though the leak occurred outside of the Mahomet Aquifer’s area, the incident raised alarms about the risks associated with deep-well carbon storage.

The Mahomet Aquifer was designated a sole source aquifer by the EPA in 2015, meaning there is no feasible alternative water supply for those it serves if contamination occurs. Despite this designation, a law passed last year allowed carbon storage statewide. SB1723 is designed to carve out an exception for the aquifer to protect it from such risk.

The technology in question — carbon sequestration — involves injecting liquified CO₂ deep underground to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas levels. ADM’s facility has stored over 4.5 million tons of CO₂ since receiving the first federal permit in 2017. But environmental experts and scientists raised concerns after roughly 8,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide escaped a designated storage zone.

MIT professor Charles Harvey warned lawmakers that the “experiment” in Decatur revealed flaws in assumptions about underground carbon stability. He cited data suggesting that injected carbon traveled through fissures much faster than predicted, calling it a serious risk to surrounding ecosystems.

Supporters of the bill stressed that 85% of Illinois remains available for carbon storage projects, and that avoiding the Mahomet Aquifer is both feasible and necessary for public safety. Opponents, including the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, argue the ban hinders clean energy innovation and economic development. The IMA issued a statement urging Governor JB Pritzker to veto the bill, calling carbon capture “safe and proven.”

SB1723 passed unanimously in the Senate (55-0) and 91-19 in the House. It now heads to the governor’s desk for consideration.