In Rural Illinois, Residents Protest a First-of-its-kind Agreement To Power Data Centers with Natural Gas + Carbon Capture and Sequestration
Residents in rural Illinois are protesting a proposed natural gas power plant with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology in Decatur, which is intended to power Google's data centers. The community, organized by Illinois People's Action (IPA), expresses concerns about ADM's transparency regarding past CO2 leaks, the safety of drinking water, and the environmental impact of CCS technology. Despite opposition and a city council member's attempt to table the vote, the Decatur City Council approved a development agreement for the project.
Residents of Decatur, Illinois, led by the grassroots organization Illinois People's Action (IPA), are actively protesting a plan by ADM, Google, and Broadwing Energy to construct a natural gas power plant with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology. The facility, intended to provide electricity for Google's data centers while meeting its net-zero emissions goals through carbon capture, has sparked significant local concern following past CO2 monitoring well leaks at ADM's existing CCS plant in Decatur.
Verlyn Rosenberger, 88, and other IPA members voiced worries about ADM's transparency after the company failed to immediately disclose a 2024 leak that violated the Safe Drinking Water Act. They are also concerned about potential contamination of Lake Decatur, the community's primary drinking water source, given that the carbon storage reservoir lies beneath it. Despite these protests and a plea from IPA member Doris McKay, the Decatur City Council approved the development agreement for Broadwing Energy's plant in February 2026, with council member David Horn noting a 6-1 vote despite his attempts to table it.
The project involves quadrupling the current rate of carbon sequestration in Decatur, injecting up to 2 million tons of CO2 annually. While geologists consulted for the article expressed confidence in ADM's redesigned wells and the safety of the process, residents remain skeptical. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently reviewing Class VI permits for five new wells, with public comment periods and final decisions expected by spring 2027 for some. The federal 45Q tax credit, offering $85 per metric ton of carbon sequestered, provides a significant financial incentive for Broadwing Energy, Google's partner.
Environmental activists like Pam Richart of the Eco-Justice Collaborative in nearby Urbana also oppose CCS, viewing it as a perpetuation of fossil fuel use rather than a true climate solution. Richart's concerns extend to the potential risks posed by legacy abandoned oil and gas wells in Illinois if they are not properly mitigated during CCS projects. Despite assurances from geological experts, the opposition highlights ongoing debates about the safety, transparency, and efficacy of large-scale carbon capture projects in local communities.