Eco-Justice Collaborative

Illinois farmers and residents have sent 1,300+ letters urging legislators to ban CO2 pipelines — a property rights and safety issue. SB 2842 would block private companies from using eminent domain to cut pipelines across farmland, damage tiling systems, and risk dangerous CO2 leaks. The bill still has a chance to pass. Take a minute to send your legislators a letter: 𝗯𝗶𝘁.𝗹𝘆/𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗦𝗕𝟮𝟴𝟰𝟮: ✅ Ask your senator to cosponsor SB 2842. ✅ Ask your representative to vote yes. #CCS #CO2Pipelines #Agriculture #Midwest

Hear from fifth-generation farmer Steve Hess on why Illinois needs to pass SB 2842 — a bill that would ban the use of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines. If passed, SB 2842 would require private CO2 pipeline companies to negotiate directly with Illinois farmers, protecting their land, their operations, and their families' safety. 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝘁? ✅ Ask your state senator to cosponsor SB 2842. ✅ Ask your state representative to support it when it comes up for a vote. It only takes a minute. Send a letter to both using this link: 𝗯𝗶𝘁.𝗹𝘆/𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗦𝗕𝟮𝟴𝟰𝟮. #Illinois #Carbon Capture #Farming #CO2Pipelines

𝗗𝗜𝗗 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪 … SB 2842 eliminates the use of eminent domain SOLELY for CO2 pipelines? 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝗔 𝗖𝗢𝟮 𝗣𝗜𝗣𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘? No. SB 2842 simply forces private companies to negotiate with landowners to minimize harm. Without negotiations, CO2 pipeline routing can: ✅ Restrict farmers’ use of their property, destroy field tiles, and reduce yield. ✅ Be routed too close to homes, businesses, and schools, placing our families in grave danger if a pipeline leaks or ruptures. 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 ... CO2 pipelines are NOT like oil and gas. A leak or rupture can release a toxic asphyxiant that can harm—or even kill—people and animals over a mile away. . 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗔 𝗠𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 Ask your Illinois senator and representative to cosponsor SB 2842 today! bit.ly/supportSB2842

🎉 Day Two at the NBCSL 49th Annual Legislative Conference Today was a powerful day of policy work and progress here at the NBCSL 49th Annual Legislative Conference. I spent the morning with colleagues for our joint session, “Taking Control of Our Ecosystem: Reimagining Sustainable Food, Water, and Energy Supply,” where we dug deep into sustaining our food systems, protecting our water, and building clean, community-centered energy futures. In that session, I was proud to see my Mahomet Aquifer protection bill 💧 officially adopted ensuring that the lifeline of Central Illinois remains safeguarded for generations. We shifted to “Riding These Economic Shocks: Immigration, Tariffs, Inflation, & Unemployment,” a timely conversation about the economic pressures working families face nationwide. I’m thrilled to share that my HR453 Genealogy Pilot Program ✊🏾was also adopted in this committee. This resolution helps families especially Black families reconnect with their history and access the documentation needed to pursue reparatory justice and ancestral restoration. Two sessions. Two adopted policies. One mission: building systems that restore, protect, and empower our communities. I’m grateful to continue representing Illinois and advancing innovative, equity-centered policy solutions alongside dedicated colleagues from across the nation. #nbcslalc49 @lakishatdavid @ecojusticecollaborative @nbcsl77

Call and email your U.S. Senators today! Tell them the Pipeline Safety Act of 2025 must markedly improve CO2 pipeline safety and oversight. This includes: ✅ Requiring companies to assess risk within a four-mile wide pipeline planning corridor through state-of-the art modeling. ✅ Fully fund EMS training, equipment and staffing. ✅ Clearly specify state and local governments have full authority to set zoning and safe routing requirements. https://bit.ly/EmailSenatorsHere

Last week, Prairie Rivers Network, alongside Eco-Justice Collaborative and other partners, brought together over 100 community members to celebrate a major win – the bill to protect the Mahomet Aquifer becoming law! The evening honored the lawmakers who championed this bill – Senator Faraci, Representative Ammons, Senator Rose, and Representative Schweizer – showing that clean water is a bipartisan issue. Everyone enjoyed all of the beautiful offerings of our hosts, Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery, rug tufting with Brittany Heyen of High in Fiber Rugs, and music from the Occasional Cajun Band to round out the night. “It’s so important to come together, catch our collective breath, and own the wins when they happen, especially in a beautiful, local setting that showcases the importance of our mission,” said Maggie Bruns, PRN’s Executive Director. “Gatherings like these, where we celebrate the successes of our communities and those who represent us in our legislature, fuel us all for the work that lies ahead. There’s so much power in acknowledging achievements and celebrating democracy in action.” This legislation is just a step protecting clean water and at Prairie Rivers Network we will continue to fight for clean water forever throughout Illinois. Thank you to @shoeless.media for capturing our celebration! #cleanwaterforever #illinois #centralillinois #cleanwater

This is a BIG step forward! The Mahomet Aquifer provides drinking water for nearly one million people in Illinois. It is an EPA-designated sole-source aquifer, which means it is economically unfeasible to replace drinking water should it become contaminated. What’s next? The bill will be moved through the Illinois House of Representatives in the next few weeks. Join the campaign!💧ProtectTheMahomet.com Watch ecojusticecollaborative.org for more. #CCS #ProtectTheMahomet

Nearly 50 people flew to the Capitol on March 12 to send a message to Congress that 45Q tax credits for CCS are harming communities across the country. Now it's your turn. Contact Congress today! https://bit.ly/45Q-hurts-communities #45Q #CCS

Four carbon sequestration projects are proposed under the Mahomet Aquifer, a U.S. EPA-designated sole-source aquifer. HB 3614 (Ammons, Champaign) and SB1723 Faraci, Champaign) would ban carbon sequestration through and under the Mahomet Aquifer, protecting drinking water from potential carbon pollution if CO2 were to leak. Having passed out of both a House and Senate Committee, the bill is now ready to be heard on the floor of the House and the Senate. #CCS #ProtectTheMahomet

Meet Brent Lage, Central Illinois farmer, who is part of today's DC fly-in. Brent traveled to DC, along with over 50 others landowners, to share how he is affected by carbon capture, CO2 pipelines, and storage (CCS). #end45Q #CCS

Studies show that carbon capture and storage (CCS) has consistently failed or underperformed. But despite this, 8 projects are planned in Illinois and more are likely to be proposed. Read the fact sheet to understand how CCS can risk the health and safety, water, and property rights of Illinois residents. Learn about the problems that exist with 45Q of the IRS tax code that incentivizes such projects at the taxpayer’s expense. See: bit.ly/CCS-fact-sheet #CCS #climatecrisis

As we move away from expensive fossil fuels, Illinois needs a strong and resilient grid. That’s why EJC is proud to support the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act! Ask your legislators to cosponsor the bill: ilcleanjobs.org/crga #climatecrisis #cleanenergy #cleanenergyfuture