FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 25, 2024
Contact: jack.darin@sierraclub.org, 312-229-4690
Sierra Club Illinois, Statement in Response to Illinois House Passage of legislation to
Protect Illinois from Risks of Carbon Capture and Sequestration
SPRINGFIELD IL. — Today, the Illinois House passed compromise legislation to regulate the practice of carbon capture and sequestration. Sierra Club Senior Campaign Representative Christine Nannicelli worked with other Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition leaders in the negotiations that led to the compromise agreement.
In response to the introduction of the new legislation, Sierra Club Illinois released the following statement:
“Companies are targeting Illinois now for disposal of this carbon pollution in our state, this legislation will put basic safeguards in place,” says Christine Nannicelli, Senior Campaign Representative for Sierra Club Illinois. “This bill ensures that Illinois has necessary guardrails to protect communities and our environment and makes sure industry plays by our rules which will be some of the strongest carbon capture protections in the nation. We urge the Illinois Senate to approve this legislation before they adjourn this weekend.
“This legislation represents a compromise, and we know there will be more work ahead to hold industry accountable and to protect our most precious water resources. Illinois will be safer under this legislation, and we applaud the work of Governor Pritzker and his team and the lawmakers and stakeholders that worked tirelessly to reach this important agreement. Most importantly, we applaud the tireless efforts of our coalition partners and concerned residents who have been fighting for years against threats to their communities from carbon capture projects.”
###
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.8 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person’s right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.