The Sangamon County Zoning Committee has voted to intervene in the proposed Heartland Greenway CO2 pipeline project. The decision comes after the company behind the project, Navigator, withdrew its initial application last month due to concerns raised by residents and officials regarding the safety and environmental impact of the pipeline.
The revised plan submitted by Navigator has addressed some of the concerns raised, but many residents and environmental advocates remain worried about the potential impact on the environment, local agriculture, and public safety.
“Companies like Navigator are rushing forward with unproven and unsafe technologies that don’t offer real solutions to the climate crisis, despite a serious lack of state and federal regulations,” said Ann Baskerville, Sierra Club Illinois organizer and member of the Coalition to Stop CO2 Pipelines.
Citizens present at the zoning meeting expressed similar concerns, and the committee voted unanimously to intervene. The decision means that the County will have a say in the project and ability to provide input and recommendations.
Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter said the petition to intervene "is a prudent step to address the concerns of Sangamon County residents."