Map from the Wolf/ADM Midwest CCS Project Overview, April 2022.

By Joyce Blumenshine

In April, Wolf Carbon Solutions/ADM published a flyer for their proposed new CO₂ pipeline from Clinton and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, ending near Decatur, Illinois. ADM has a carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) site near their Decatur ethanol plant. That facility has never reached its stated goals in spite of nearly $300 million in tax support since 2009. The annual emissions being sequestered from the ADM Decatur ethanol plant are only about half of what was intended and the plant increased the amount of CO₂ it discharged into the air while doing CCS. Carbon capture and sequestration takes huge amounts of energy and often requires additional power production, typically from methane, i.e. ‘natural’ gas or coal, in a Catch-22 situation where the project is supposed to reduce carbon dioxide pollution and releases.

More companies are jumping on the bandwagon to make big money from federal subsidies for carbon capture and sequestration. CCS projects across the country have failed repeatedly and the ones that have managed to operate have not reached intended sequestration results. The unspoken concerns include CCS enables users of carbon-based fuels to continue unabated with no transition to clean energy. These projects will take billions of tax dollars away from solar, wind, and energy efficiency and grid improvements. An added concern is much of this CO₂ could be used for enhanced oilfield recovery (EOR), where the gas is used to pump more oil out of lagging wells. EOR totally negates any claimed environmental benefits of carbon capture.

HOI members in Tazewell, Peoria, Stark and Knox Counties need to be alert for information regarding the Wolf/ADM pipeline. CO₂ pipelines are a danger to health and safety. A line rupture or leak can mean death in minutes for people and animals if the CO₂ levels are high since CO₂ displaces oxygen. For more information see the Coalition to Stop CO2 Pipelines website.