Elysian Carbon Management Plans Four CO2 Injection Wells in Montgomery County

Montgomery County Board Meeting | April 14, 2026

Article Summary:
The Montgomery County Board was informed Tuesday that Elysian Carbon Management has submitted a proposal to the Illinois EPA to build four carbon dioxide sequestration injection wells in the county. The project would be the second-largest sequestration site in the state, sparking renewed opposition from environmental and landowner groups.

CO2 Sequestration Key Points:

• Elysian Carbon Management is seeking to store up to 120 million metric tons of CO2 in Montgomery County.

• The proposed wells target the same site previously sought by Navigator CO2 Ventures in 2023.

• The Coalition to Stop CO2 Pipelines is organizing local opposition, scheduling a public meeting for April 28 in Nokomis.

HILLSBORO — A new carbon sequestration project is officially targeting Montgomery County, reviving a contentious environmental and land-use debate.

During the Montgomery County Board meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, resident Rick Graden announced that his organization, the Coalition to Stop CO2 Pipelines, had discovered a new proposal submitted to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The proposal, filed by Elysian Carbon Management, seeks to place four CO2 injection wells within the county. Graden urged local landowners not to sign leases or easements with the company and thanked the board for passing a resolution last month supporting Senate Bill 2842, which seeks to heavily regulate carbon capture projects.

According to communications provided in the board’s agenda packet from Pam Richart of the Coalition to Stop CO2 Pipelines, Elysian Carbon Management—an Oklahoma-based company acquired by Buckeye Partners in 2023—plans to inject up to an estimated 120 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the ground.

If approved, the four injection wells would make the Montgomery County location the second-largest sequestration site in Illinois. The largest proposed site is the Heartland Greenway project in neighboring Christian County, which aims to store 180 million metric tons across six injection wells.

Richart noted in her memo that Elysian’s targeted location in Montgomery County is the exact same site originally proposed as a CO2 dump site by Navigator CO2 Ventures in February 2023, a project that previously faced heavy local resistance before being scrapped.

Board Member Chad Ruppert confirmed that the Development and Personnel Committee reviewed the coalition’s findings on March 25 and will continue to monitor the situation.

To address the new proposal, the Coalition to Stop CO2 Pipelines is hosting an organizing and informational meeting for Montgomery and Christian County residents. The meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at the Nokomis Park House.

Chairman Doug Donaldson encouraged all County Board members to attend the April 28 meeting if their schedules allow.