Carbon Capture and Storage in the Midwest

The document outlines the three-stage process of carbon capture and storage (CCS)—capture, transport, and storage—and argues that the Midwest is uniquely positioned for deployment due to its industrial profile and geologic formations. It highlights the Illinois Basin, specifically the Mount Simon sandstone and Eau Claire formation, as a premier storage resource with an estimated capacity to store over 147 billion metric tons of CO2. The text notes that CCS can reduce harmful air pollutants and create between 8,050 and 11,880 operational jobs in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Financial viability is driven by the 45Q tax credit, which offers up to $180/MT depending on the method of capture and storage. Safety and regulatory oversight are managed by the EPA's Underground Injection Control Program and PHMSA.

• The Midwest possesses significant geologic storage capacity, estimated at over 147 billion metric tons of CO2, which is more than 400 times the combined annual emissions of Illinois and Indiana.
• The Illinois Basin is identified as a premier storage resource, utilizing the Mount Simon sandstone for injection and the Eau Claire formation as an impermeable caprock to trap CO2.
• Deployment of CCS in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio is estimated to create 2,040 annual transportation infrastructure jobs over 15 years and between 8,050 and 11,880 ongoing operational jobs.
• The 45Q tax credit, updated by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, provides financial incentives of $85/MT for permanent geologic storage, $180/MT for direct air capture, and $60/MT for utilization for facilities starting construction before 2033.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (n.d.). Carbon Capture and Storage in the Midwest. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/01172719/carbon-capture-storage-midwest.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Carbon Capture and Storage in the Midwest. n.d. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/01172719/carbon-capture-storage-midwest.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Carbon Capture and Storage in the Midwest |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/01172719/carbon-capture-storage-midwest.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforcendcarbon, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Carbon Capture and Storage in the Midwest}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/01172719/carbon-capture-storage-midwest.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }