Carbon storage
The Midwest Regional Carbon Initiative (MRCI) is a collaborative Regional Initiative (RI) aiming to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) in the Midwestern-Northeastern quadrant of the United States covering 20 states and representing multiple geologic provinces and a large fraction of CO₂ emissions in the country. The RI builds upon more than 20 years of CCUS experience in the region and combines the expertise of two Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships (RCSPs) – the Midwestern Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP) led by Battelle and the Midwest Geologic Sequestration Consortium (MGSC) led by the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS).
The MRCI is the consolidation and continuation of nearly 20 years of research on carbon capture, utilization, and storage within 20 states in the Midwest, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic US. Check out areas of research.
MRCI is working to connect industry, science, and technology with information to support the acceptance and deployment of CCUS across our Initiative region through the sharing and creation of Frequently Asked Questions, informative Websites, Infographics and Fact Sheets, and Additional Resources. Check these resources out today and bookmark this page they are constantly updating.
The geology of Illinois is ideal for safe carbon storage, with the Mt. Simon Sandstone capped by layers of sedimentary rock that act as a “seal.” The Illinois Basin region, which covers most of Illinois as well as southwestern Indiana and western Kentucky, has a storage capacity ranging between 12 billion and 172 billion metric tons of CO₂.
For almost 20 years, Prairie Research Institute (PRI) geologists and engineers have been developing methods for the safe capture and underground storage of CO₂ from power plants and industrial operations, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Multiple projects have shown that carbon storage can be done safely and effectively in Illinois.
PRI’s mission is to provide decision-makers and the public with scientific information and research to inform policy discussions. In December 2022, PRI released a comprehensive carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) report, pursuant to Public Act 102-0341. Since publishing that report, PRI has provided data and research as requested throughout the legislative process, providing insights from this scientific work.