Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker has signed a bill to regulate new carbon capture, storage and pipeline projects. The technology involves capturing carbon dioxide created by power plants or other industries, transporting it and storing it deep underground. It can help companies reduce their climate-warming emissions. But unchecked, it also presents some dangers to the public, especially if a pipeline breaks. Jenny Cassel is an attorney with the environmental group Earthjustice.

Cassel says she’s pleased with protections in the law, which include long-term monitoring requirements and funds for emergency management. It also stops all new pipelines from being built until July of 2026 while regulators finalize stronger safety rules. The Illinois governor’s office says this law will create up to 37-hundred new jobs in Illinois. Pipeline operators say its among the safest ways to sequester carbon.

Multiple carbon capture projects have been proposed in recent years in Illinois, which has a geology uniquely suited for Co2 storage. Cassel says the new law isn’t perfect, but is a solid compromise that can be improved in the future.

:14  “I truly do hope that many more states do what Illinois does and potentially even go beyond that, right, in terms of protection against this. We do not want to protect our climate at the expense of our lives and our environment.”

New carbon capture projects will also be required to create a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Pritzker has set a goal for Illinois to run on 100 percent clean energy by 2050.