A Gibson City ethanol company is moving forward with plans to capture and store carbon dioxide, a process known as carbon capture and sequestration, or CCS. The project stems from a 2018 study with the University of Illinois examining the feasibility of long-term underground CO₂ storage.
Steve Kelly, CEO of One Earth Energy, says progress on the pipeline has been paused due to a state moratorium set to expire July 1, 2026.
“We situated the well site about six miles west of Gibson City, here in McLean County, because all of our research and development showed that it was the best, most favorable, and safest spot to inject into the sandstone,” Kelly said. “We anticipate that once the new rules and regulations are developed under the Safe CCS Act, we will follow those rules and reapply for the opportunity to build that pipeline. We just need six miles of pipeline between our plant here in Gibson City and our proposed well site just across the county border.”
Kelly adds that they have been working to help train local emergency response teams to ensure safety in the event of an emergency.
