Great news! Legislation to protect the Mahomet Aquifer is being considered in the Illinois General Assembly veto session, which is set for the next two weeks. It will be up at the Senate Executive Committee has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday, November 13 at 1 p.m. With a successful committee vote, it could move to the Senate floor.
This is moving very quickly, and we need your help today. There are THREE actions you can take right now to support the bill:
- Submit a witness slip: Tell the Senate Executive Committee you support the bill. You can do so by submitting a “witness slip”. Instructions on how to submit a witness slip are below.
- Ask your legislators to co-sponsor the legislation: Write to them today at this link!
- Donate today to help us build momentum and secure this win. We are pulling out all the stops and in addition to taking action, your financial support will help ensure decision makers understand the importance of protecting this sole source aquifer for the long term.
I’m heading to Springfield next week and will keep you updated throughout the coming days on any next steps.
Don’t know how to submit a witness slip?
Witness slips help show support for the bill. Here are some guidelines:
- In Section I, fill out your information. In the Firm/Business or Agency” box, enter “self“
- In Section II Representation, enter “self” into the box
- In Section III Position, mark “Proponent”
- In Section IV Testimony, mark “Record of Appearance Only“
Here is a tutorial video to help you feel more comfortable slipping for bills!
About the legislation to Protect the Mahomet Aquifer
The Illinois legislature will be back in session next week, and there is a critical bill on the table to safeguard the Mahomet Aquifer from the dangers of carbon capture and sequestration. Since last session’s carbon sequestration legislation passed, we’ve learned that these projects carry even greater risks than previously understood. ADM’s ongoing CO2 sequestration project has leaked — twice. This alarming situation underscores why we need stronger, targeted protections for our precious water resources.
The Mahomet Aquifer is the primary drinking water source for nearly one million people across Central Illinois. Last session’s legislation created some protections, but a key gap remains: the law does not fully protect the Mahomet Aquifer — or any other sole-source aquifer in Illinois — from contamination risks. For the Mahomet Aquifer, there’s no alternative drinking water source, so any threat to its safety puts the entire region’s water security at risk.
ADM’s recent leaks at its Decatur sequestration project emphasize that no level of risk is acceptable. In March, during bill negotiations, a monitoring well leaked, and a notice of violation followed in August. A second leak has now forced ADM to halt CO2 injections. Despite this, three additional carbon sequestration projects are proposed for the Mahomet Aquifer and its recharge areas, with potential to store up to 215 million metric tons of CO2 — a volume 5,000% greater than any previous storage in Illinois.
Now is the time for action. Representative Ammons has introduced HB5874 in the House, and Senator Faraci has introduced SB3968 in the Senate. These bills would provide essential protections by banning carbon sequestration projects through and under the Mahomet Aquifer, safeguarding clean drinking water for Central Illinois communities.
Please urge your elected officials to cosponsor HB5874 and SB3968 to protect the Mahomet Aquifer today.
