In a new report, Enverus Intelligence® Research (EIR) examines the ripple effects of Illinois’ ban on carbon storage beneath the Mahomet Aquifer, raising urgent questions about the future of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) in regions with EPA-designated sole source aquifers.
“A ban on sequestration beneath the Mahomet Aquifer in Illinois immediately impacts three CCUS projects, totaling 5.6 mtpa of storage capacity,” said Brad Johnston, analyst at EIR. “This raises concern for carbon storage projects in other regions with EPA sole source aquifer regulations, particularly Louisiana.”
“If a similar ban is implemented in Louisiana, 58 mtpa of storage capacity across 17 projects and 11 operators could be at risk,” Johnston said. “This is more than a third of the storage capacity in the Gulf Coast region, and about a fifth of total U.S. capacity.”
Key takeaways:
Illinois’ CO₂ sequestration restrictions eliminate 5.6 MMtpa of carbon storage capacity from Heartland Greenway and Vault 44.01 projects beneath the Mahomet Aquifer.
Some 58 MMtpa across 17 projects and 11 operators could be at risk beneath the sole source Chicot and Southern Hills aquifers in Louisiana if a similar sequestration ban is imposed.
