Committee extends carbon sequestration moratorium for six months after task-force delay concerns

The Champaign County Environment and Land Use Committee voted to extend a temporary safety moratorium on carbon sequestration activity for six months after members expressed frustration that the county task force charged with drafting an ordinance had not finished its work.

County staff told the committee the Zoning Board of Appeals had split 2–2 on a recommendation to deny the extension and that the task force had made progress on mapping, but some members remained frustrated by repeated delays. "Doctor Storer has been dodging my calls," one committee member said, and staff confirmed Dr. Storer—identified as the task-force chair—had been on a speaking tour and that only one more task-force meeting was anticipated before the group could take final action.

A committee member proposed amending the extension from six months to 90 days to force a quicker timeline; the amendment received no second. Members discussed procedural steps to accelerate the process, including asking staff to email a draft ordinance to committee members prior to the next meeting and considering a separate letter urging the task force to act quickly.

The committee approved the six-month extension by voice vote; the chair recorded that there was one opposed vote. Members said they would ask the chair and staff to push for a June task-force meeting and agreed to send a strongly worded communication requesting prompt completion so the ordinance could be considered in a timely fashion.