Metro East Sun

During the final days of the spring legislative session, the Illinois General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1289, known as the Safety and Aid for the Environment in Carbon Capture and Sequestration Act (SAFE CCS Act). The bill introduces several new regulations regarding the capture, transport, and sequestration of carbon emissions in Illinois. State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville), a member of the House Energy & Environment Committee, expressed his disapproval of several provisions within the bill, particularly its eminent domain-like system to establish underground carbon storage facilities.

"The main emphasis of the bill, and my opposition toward it, is the use of eminent domain in order to put these underground storage sites in place against the wishes of landowners," he said. "In this bill, a carbon sequestration operator needs permission from owners of only 75% of the land above the proposed sequestration facility. What about the other 25% of the landowners above these facilities? Is their right to say how their private property is used forfeited if their neighbors say so? These landowners deserve the same rights and payments as the 75% who authorize the use of their property. Private property rights are the backbone of our American system of ownership and freedom. I will continue to fight for the landowners in my district whose homes, farms, and private property are threatened by this legislation."

Several House Republicans, including Rep. Meier, have also noted that regulations and fees within the bill’s provisions are not "business-friendly" and could force manufacturers to relocate out of state. The carbon sequestration fees proposed within the bill are set at $0.31 per ton. If a CCS project does not operate under a project labor agreement, fees could rise as high as $0.62 per ton—a significant cost that many legislators argue is not reflected in neighboring states.

"We, as a state, are falling behind when it comes to carbon capture and storage," said Rep. Meier. "As a manufacturer in Illinois, you have more permits to apply for, more rules to follow, and fees on carbon that are four times higher than our neighboring states. There is no doubt in my mind these harsh fees will end up driving Illinois manufacturers elsewhere to states that do not have burdensome regulations and fees. But that's just what we do here in Illinois. We impose harsh regulations against our business and then increase the price to operate here compared to neighboring states."

SB 1289 passed the House of Representatives on Saturday with a vote of 78-29-0 and was concurred in by the Senate. It now heads to Governor Pritzker’s desk where it awaits his signature.

State Representative Charlie Meier represents the 109th District which includes portions of Bond, Clinton, Madison, St. Clair, and Washington counties.

For more information, please visit CharlieMeier.net or contact Rep. Meier’s district office at 618-651-0405.

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