Annexation request for carbon capture storage project receives favorable recommendation from Plan Commission

The voluntary annexation request from Shakespeare Sequestration, LLC, for approximately 97 acres of land adjacent to POET Biorefining (photo) received a favorable recommendation Monday from the Shelbyville Plan Commission.

The land has been targeted for a carbon capture storage project expected to be operational in mid-2028.

The nine members present for the Plan Commission meeting forwarded a favorable recommendation to the Shelbyville Common Council, 8-1. Duane Schuler was the lone “No” vote.

Commission members Gary Nolley and Joe Lux were not in attendance for Monday’s meeting.

The common council will now vote to annex the property or deny the petition at its next meeting on Oct. 5.

The council approved the annexation request on first reading at its Sept. 21 meeting which forwarded the petition to the Plan Commission. The land in question also will be rezoned to Light Industrial to match the surrounding land zoning.

At the council meeting on Sept. 21, representatives of POET, Shakespeare Sequestration and its ownership group, DTE Vantage, presented the project details for storing carbon dioxide created by POET’s fermentation process underground.

At Monday’s commission meeting, it was confirmed the land will eventually be sold to POET to either continue to be used as farmland or room for expansion of the plant.

Shakespeare Sequestration wants to drill a well 4,000 feet underground where it will store liquid carbon dioxide from POET for a minimum of 12 years.

Shakespeare’s sequestration permit is currently being reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval. That process is expected to continue through the fall of 2027.

Once approved, the EPA will conduct a public meeting in Shelbyville to hear feedback on the proposed drilling.

In other commission business Monday:

• Approved a rezone request for 415 E. Hendricks St to Light Industrial from Business General. Martin and Tami Zinser currently own the property but are working to sell it to a new owner that wants to convert the former Occasions Banquet Hall to storage area.

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