The 21st Show

Clashing over carbon capture pipelines in Illinois

Produced by Jose Zepeda
 
An ethanol refinery in Chancellor, S.D., one of many in the midwest, is shown, July 22, 2021. North Dakota’s biggest oil driller says it will commit $250 million to help fund a proposed pipeline that would gather carbon dioxide produced by ethanol plants across the Midwest and pump it underground for permanent storage. Billionaire oil tycoon Harold Hamm’s Continental Resources was scheduled to make a formal announcement of the investment into Summit Carbon Solutions’ $4.5 billion pipeline Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at an ethanol plant in North Dakota.

An ethanol refinery in Chancellor, S.D., one of many in the midwest, is shown, July 22, 2021. North Dakota’s biggest oil driller says it will commit $250 million to help fund a proposed pipeline that would gather carbon dioxide produced by ethanol plants across the Midwest and pump it underground for permanent storage. Billionaire oil tycoon Harold Hamm’s Continental Resources was scheduled to make a formal announcement of the investment into Summit Carbon Solutions’ $4.5 billion pipeline Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at an ethanol plant in North Dakota. Stephen Groves/AP, file

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Central Illinois is in a particularly interesting spot when it comes to carbon capture. A recent report from the University of Illinois’ Prairie Research Institute noted that Illinois’ deep underground rock, the sandstone layer of earth in the Illinois Basin is able to take in liquid CO₂ and keep it from seeping upwards. And in Illinois, there are two proposed carbon capture pipelines in the works.

While many experts say it is a useful method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, many worry about the health risks associated with carbon dioxide if it were to leak from the pipeline.

The 21st was joined by a climate change specialist and organizers who oppose the pipelines to talk about the cases for and against the proposals.

GUESTS:

Pamela Richart

Co-Founder and Co-Director, Eco-Justice Collaborative | Lead Organizer, Coalition to Stop CO₂ Pipelines

Kathleen Campbell 

Professor Emeritus, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine | Vice President, Citizens Against Heartland Greenway Pipeline

Duane Friend

State Master Naturalist and Climate Change Specialist, University of Illinois Extension

 

 

Prepared for web by Owen Henderson

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