Project Benefits
The One Earth Sequestration (OES) project delivers meaningful environmental, economic, and community benefits while advancing Illinois’ leadership in clean fuel innovation. This page outlines both the value of the project and the work underway to safely develop and operate the proposed carbon storage system.
Environmental Benefits
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. The natural greenhouse effect is essential for life on Earth, but the enhanced greenhouse effect — driven by human activities — is causing global warming.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory) monitors long‑term climate drivers, including CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, and CO. Atmospheric CO₂ concentrations continue to rise, as shown by NOAA’s Mauna Loa Observatory dataset.
One Earth Sequestration proposes to capture 521,000 metric tons of CO₂ annually — the equivalent of removing 123,999 gasoline‑powered vehicles from the road for one year, nearly all vehicles registered in McLean County, Illinois.
Clean Fuel Innovation
In partnership with One Earth Energy (OEE), the project will enable the production of lower-carbon-intensity (CI) ethanol, which can be refined into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) — a cleaner‑burning fuel supported by federal and state policies.
With project completion and additional steps, OEE will be capable of producing 120 million gallons of SAF annually.
Agricultural Benefits
OEE’s operations support Illinois agriculture by:
Purchasing locally grown corn
Producing ethanol, distillers’ grains, and corn oil
Enhancing energy security and rural economic resilience
Creating new markets for agricultural products
Future SAF production will further support farmers and strengthen U.S. energy independence.
Economic Benefits
OEE’s current plant and proposed sequestration project generate a significant economic impact.
2007–2024:
$5.6 billion total impact on Ford County
$1 billion in labor income
12,000+ full‑time equivalent jobs
McLean County:
$1.6 billion estimated impact
5,000+ full‑time equivalent jobs
Statewide:
$10.7 billion total impact from 2007–2024
$6.8 billion projected impact from SAF production
$1.5 billion in labor income
21,000+ new full‑time equivalent jobs
$256 million in county and state tax revenue
PLANNED PROJECT ACTIVITIES
A regional site assessment was completed to evaluate the geologic setting, the storage complex, and existing resources before selecting the proposed injection well sites, One Earth Energy #1 (OEE #1) stratigraphic well location, and future monitoring wells.
Mahomet Aquifer Considerations
The Mahomet Aquifer Sole Source Aquifer spans 14 counties in east‑central Illinois and supplies an estimated 210 million gallons of groundwater per day. Because of its importance, the aquifer was a central factor in site selection.
Key findings:
The proposed well site is outside the mapped boundary of the Mahomet Sole Source Aquifer
GIS analysis confirmed no impacts to protected areas, groundwater resources, or existing development
The Mahomet Aquifer Sole Source Aquifer (Figure 1) extends across portions of 14 counties in east-central Illinois, producing an average groundwater withdrawal rate estimated to be 210 million gallons daily. The Mahomet Sole Source Aquifer was considered in this assessment and guided the placement of any project wells.
The proposed well site is well outside the mapped boundary of the Mahomet Sole Source Aquifer. GIS analysis indicated that no protected and sensitive areas, groundwater resources, or existing resource development would be negatively impacted at the proposed location.
Extensive characterization has confirmed the feasibility of permanent CO₂ storage in the Mt. Simon Storage Complex, which includes:
Mt. Simon Sandstone — the storage reservoir
Eau Claire Formation — the confining layer
This storage complex has already been used successfully for natural gas storage in east‑central Illinois and CO₂ sequestration in south‑central Illinois.
OEE #1 Stratigraphic Test Well
The OEE #1 stratigraphic test well was permitted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and drilled from December 2, 2021, to February 12, 2022, reaching a total depth of 7,104 feet into the Precambrian basement.
Key geologic findings:
The Mt. Simon Sandstone begins at 4,455 feet and is 2,014 feet thick
The Arkose interval, the target injection zone, begins at 6,262 feet and is 207 feet thick
Data collected:
Full suite of wireline logs
64 rotary sidewall cores
252 feet of whole core recovered from the production interval
Fiber‑optic cable installed from 4,400 feet to surface for continuous temperature and acoustic monitoring
Upon approval of the Class VI permit application, OEE #1 will be converted to a monitoring well to sample formation fluids and track pressure and temperature in the Mt. Simon Sandstone.
Class VI Permit Application Status
The OES Class VI permit application is under review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program.
Proposed CO₂ Pipeline Route
OES has completed extensive work developing the carbon capture and sequestration system. The CO₂ compression facility has been constructed, and engineering and safety planning for the transportation pipeline continues.
Due to the SAFE CCS Act, new carbon pipeline approvals are paused until July 2026 or until PHMSA issues updated safety rules.
Pipeline details:
Approximately 5.92 miles long
Extends from the existing compression facility in western Ford County
Crosses into McLean County
Terminates at the proposed injection well sites
No eminent domain used — all landowner agreements secured voluntarily
