A name that's familiar to some in Christian County—Tenaska (ten-ASK-uh)--that wanted to build a power plant to turn coal into natural gas northeast of Taylorville some 10 years ago, is now part of a company that wants to use that same property for carbon dioxide, or C-O-2, sequestration project.

Tenaska is a partner in Navigator C-O-2 Ventures L-L-C, and now wants to use that same property to sequester up to 15 million metric tons of C-O-2 in the Mount Simon rock formation 64-hundred feet below ground.

Over half a dozen officials from Tenaska spoke at a special meeting of the Christian County Board Tuesday night, to layout their plans for a 5-state C-O-2 pipeline that would bring it to be injected into that rock formation under their property northeast of Taylorville.

County Board chair Matt Wells allowed the public to make comments, then the Tenaska officials gave an overview of the proposed project which must have county board approval before proceeding.  

Following Tenaska's presentation, Wells opened the floor to County Board members, then Drainage District Board members who Wells also invited to the meeting.

Monte D. Ten Kley, who is Director of Strategic Development and Acquisions for Tenaska, told Regional Radio News after the one hour 20-minute meeting, that it was beneficial.

Ten Kley added that those in attendance asked a lot of great questions.

Ten Kley said securing leases from landowners who will be affected is the first step in the process, but the project ultimately must be approved by the Christian County Board.

Tenaska will begin holding landowner meetings in the near future.  See a summary of Tenaska's presentation by clicking HERE.