Rep. Scherer Attends Carbon Capture Pilot Groundbreaking Ceremony, Highlights Need for Energy Investment

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, and community leaders broke ground on a carbon capture project at Springfield’s City, Water, Light, and Power coal plant Thursday, which was funded by a joint investment of $47 million investment from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and $20 million from the state of Illinois.

“The carbon capture system installed at CWLP is just one example of the steps that I have been working on to protect our community’s vital energy industry,” said Scherer. “By investing in and implementing this promising technology, we are making a commitment to our community that will ensure we are not left behind as we navigate the global shift to fossil fuel alternatives to address global warming.”

“We are fortunate that the Prairie Research Institute at University of Illinois and the Department of Energy chose our city for this monumental project,” said Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder. “This pilot is not only a value to our regional economic impact and job creation, but the impact it will have globally – as the energy industry and manufacturing sectors are all working to create a better balanced, low carbon future.”

Scherer attended the groundbreaking ceremony at the CWLP’s Dallman Unit 4, one of the coal-fired power plants used by the city. The $67 million investment was instrumental in constructing the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign operated carbon capture pilot facility, which is the largest project of its kind in the world. The facility will be instrumental in reducing local carbon emissions, and demonstrating the feasibility of using carbon capture technology to revitalize energy infrastructure.

“Demonstrating this technology couldn’t be more timely, as this project is what the U.S. and other countries need to keep economies moving by adapting existing generation sources to support a resilient and reliable energy grid,” said CWLP Chief Utility Engineer Doug Brown. “We are pleased to host this project at our Unit 4 and look forward to future innovation the Prairie Research Institute and the USDOE can develop that CWLP can bring to fruition.