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Moratorium Passes on Christian County CO2
Taylorville Daily News
Posted  May 17, 2022 att 9:59pm

The Christian County board met for their monthly board meeting and one of the bigger discussions centered around a proposed six-month moratorium that would put a halt on any vote on the CO2 Carbon Sequestration project for 6 months. Board member, Ray Koonce, said the moratorium would be good for both sides.

Koonce continued by stressing that this would be a good way for Tenaska Heartland Greenway to have time to show how safe this project would be. Chairman Matt Wells added his thoughts, including a letter that he received from a local attorney asking that the moratorium be passed or some rules are put down. He also asked States Attorney Wes Poggenpohl his thoughts on the moratorium and whether or not the board could pass it without the ZBA.

Chairman Wells says he is concerned about safety, but also is worried that the moratorium is “just kicking the can down the road.”

Wells says the next step is for the Zoning Board of Appeals to have a meeting and make a recommendation to the board.

The motion for the moratorium passed overwhelmingly. Everyone voted yes for it except Matt Wells and  Dale Livingston. Heartland Greenway has released the following statement following the moratorium vote. "We appreciate that County Board members want to have all of the information they need before taking any action in the future.  As we’ve shared with them, Heartland Greenway is not ready to start construction and we haven’t filed for state or federal permits, which will take 18 to 24 months to obtain. We recognize the County Board, landowners, and Christian County residents have important questions about Heartland Greenway, and we are committed to answering all of them, and to ensure that the county has the information it needs to make an informed decision about this project. We also are committed to working with the County Board to develop a fact-based zoning framework that is fair, feasible, and leads to a prosperous future for Christian County that encourages economic development."

2 comments on “Moratorium Passes on Christian County CO2”

  1. K E Reply

    Has consideration been given to the fact that much of Christian County is over abandoned coal mines? Has consideration been given to the nearness of the Madrid Fault Line?
    These seem to be crucial subjects to consider. Thank you for your consideration. We value our safety.

  2. Pam R. Reply

    Thank you K.E. We definitely are looking at both the Madrid and Wabash Valley Seismic Zones. You are right about the presence of abandoned coal mines, too, and will be sure to evaluate that as well, particularly as it relates to the storage of CO2. The coalition has grave concerns over the potential for CO2 to leak and potentially contaminate drinking water. We also are concerned about induced seismic activity related to injection. And more. We’re working on adding an entire section on carbon capture and storage to this website. It’s in process. So, stay tuned!

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