Sen. Deery Shares Updates

Over the last three years I have heard from many of you, especially those from Vermillion and Warren counties, that you should have the right to decide for yourselves whether carbon sequestration projects move forward in your communities.  I agree, which is why in both 2024 and 2025 I authored multiple bills in response: Senate Bill 7 and Senate Bill 260. On Tuesday, I joined Vermillion County Commissioner Bill Peebles to testify in support of SB 7. Then, on Thursday, I spoke on the floor in support.

In my testimony, I walked my colleagues through the environmental history of Vermillion County, from coal mining to the Newport Chemical Depot. I explained how when this started in 2019 (before I was in politics), no one ever asked the people whether they wanted to be a testing ground for carbon sequestration. I stated that no county should be a dumping ground for another county’s waste without that county’s approval. The bill passed by a vote of 36 – 12, making it the first of its kind to pass either the House or the Senate. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.