Carbon Storage In Question: Illinois Regulation Could Threaten Key CCUS Projects

Aquifer ban and CO₂ sequestration restrictions could set precedent, putting 20% of U.S. carbon capture capacity at risk

CALGARY, Alberta (Oct. 1, 2025) Enverus Intelligence® Research (EIR), a subsidiary of Enverus, the most trusted energy-dedicated SaaS company that leverages generative AI across its solutions, is releasing a new report that examines the ripple effects of Illinois’ ban on carbon storage beneath the Mahomet Aquifer, raising urgent questions about the future of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) in regions with EPA-designated sole source aquifers.

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“A ban on sequestration beneath the Mahomet Aquifer in Illinois immediately impacts three CCUS projects, totaling 5.6 mtpa of storage capacity,” said Brad Johnston, analyst at EIR. “This raises concern for carbon storage projects in other regions with EPA sole source aquifer regulations, particularly Louisiana.”

“If a similar ban is implemented in Louisiana, 58 mtpa of storage capacity across 17 projects and 11 operators could be at risk,” Johnston said. “This is more than a third of the storage capacity in the Gulf Coast region, and about a fifth of total U.S. capacity.”

Key Takeaways:

• Illinois’ CO₂ sequestration restrictions eliminate 5.6 mtpa of carbon storage capacity from Heartland Greenway and Vault 44.01 projects beneath the Mahomet Aquifer.

• Some 58 mtpa across 17 projects and 11 operators could be at risk beneath the sole source Chicot and Southern Hills aquifers in Louisiana if a similar sequestration ban is imposed.

EIR’s analysis pulls from a variety of products including Enverus FOUNDATIONS® – Carbon Innovation and Enverus Infrastructure.

View Report Here

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About Enverus Intelligence® Research

Enverus Intelligence ® | Research, Inc. (EIR) is a subsidiary of Enverus that publishes energy-sector research focused on the oil, natural gas, power and renewable industries. EIR publishes reports including asset and company valuations, resource assessments, technical evaluations and macro-economic forecasts; and helps make intelligent connections for energy industry participants, service companies and capital providers worldwide. Enverus is the most trusted, energy-dedicated SaaS company, with a platform built to create value from generative AI, offering real-time access to analytics, insights and benchmark cost and revenue data sourced from our partnerships to 95% of U.S. energy producers, and more than 40,000 suppliers. Learn more at Enverus.com.