Advocate: Bipartisan support for IL CO2 pipeline eminent domain prohibition

(The Center Square) – A bipartisan effort is underway to eliminate the option of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines in Illinois.

Carbon sequestration advocates say the process of storing carbon dioxide could benefit the environment and provide future energy options. Getting the industrial byproduct to storage locations requires pipelines. But, property rights advocates like Kathleen Campbell warn these are not like natural gas pipelines.

“So as people find out how dangerous these pipelines are, this is very different than gas and oil pipelines, they’re much more dangerous, and they don’t carry any energy,” Campbell told The Center Square. “It’s toxic hazardous waste.”

If a CO2 pipeline ruptures, she said there’s virtually no escape.

“Anything other than an all electric car won’t run because there won’t be enough oxygen. But even if your car did run, you had an all electric vehicle, for the concentrations of CO2 coming out at near distances, you’re going to be having seizures. You’re going to ...