Residents protest underground CO2 plan

GREENVILLE, Ohio (WDTN) - Protesters in Darke County are making noise about a plan to shoot carbon dioxide underground.

Ohio research company Battelle wants to use the Greenville ethanol plant as a testing sight and inject carbon dioxide in the ground under the plant, every year for four years.

"It' s part of the process to find out if the emissions of carbon dioxide are contributing to climate change," explained Battelle Outreach Coordinator Judith Bradbury.

Nearly a thousand people attended a public meeting in Greenville Monday night, hosted by the 'Citizens Against CO2 Sequestration,' a group of concerned Darke County residents.

"It's the fear of the unknown, " said Greenville resident Julie Monnin. "I'm concerned about my water, my property value. I'm worried about CO2 escaping from where they are trying to sequester."

They group worries that injection at high pressure can cause earth quakes and damage nutrient rich soil, ultimately keeping people from moving to Greenville

It could be many months before Battelle gets the OK to proceed. The company still needs a permit from land owners.