CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, IL (CHAMBANA TODAY/CAPITOL CITY NOW) – On Thursday night, the Champaign County Board voted unanimously to approve a 12-month moratorium on carbon sequestration projects, aimed at safeguarding the Mahomet Aquifer, which is a water source for 14 east-central Illinois counties including Logan, Menard and Mason Counties.

The decision comes as environmental advocates and local officials raise concerns about the potential risks carbon capture could pose to the aquifer, which serves thousands of residents in Central Illinois.

The moratorium provides the county with the time needed to develop zoning regulations and assess amendments to existing zoning laws in order to better protect the aquifer. Pam Richart, co-director of the Eco-Justice Collaborative, commended the move, saying, “This moratorium gives us the time we need to put in place regulations that protect our water for future generations.”

Local leaders, including Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin and Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen, also voiced strong support for the measure. State lawmakers have also stepped in to address the issue. State Senator Paul Faraci (D-Champaign) and Representative Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) have introduced legislation aimed at banning carbon sequestration projects that could impact sole-source aquifers like the Mahomet Aquifer.

With support growing at both the local and state levels, the moratorium marks a significant first step toward protecting the region’s drinking water from potential contamination. The county will now have the opportunity to carefully consider the potential impacts of carbon sequestration and to take actions that prioritize public health and safety.