Takeaways

• ADM’s Columbus, Nebraska, complex has begun shipping CO₂ through Tallgrass’s Trailblazer pipeline, becoming the world’s largest bioethanol carbon-capture facility.
• Tallgrass’s converted 400-mile pipeline now anchors a regional CO₂ network expected to move and permanently store more than 10 million tons of CO₂ annually.
• More ethanol plants across Nebraska are joining the system, marking a rapid expansion of carbon capture and sequestration infrastructure in the region.

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has started sending carbon dioxide (CO₂) from its corn processing complex in Columbus, Nebraska, into Tallgrass’s newly converted Trailblazer pipeline, marking another major step in the expansion of regional carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) infrastructure.

ADM announced the milestone on Nov. 10, saying the connection makes the Columbus site “the largest bioethanol carbon capture facility in the world.” The company captures CO₂ produced during bioethanol processing and sends it through the pipeline for permanent underground sequestration in eastern Wyoming.

Tallgrass recently transformed its 400-mile Trailblazer natural gas pipeline into a dedicated CO₂ transportation system. The line now serves as the backbone of a growing regional CO₂ network designed to capture, transport, and sequester more than 10 million tons of CO₂ each year from industrial facilities in Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming. All captured volumes are stored at Tallgrass’s commercial-scale sequestration hub in Wyoming.

Read More: New SLB Capturi–JGC Alliance Targets Carbon Capture Growth in Asia and the Middle East

Chris Cuddy, president of North America at ADM, said the development builds on the company’s decade-long efforts in CCS. “CCS is an important part of our strategy to decarbonize our operations and help meet global demand for low-carbon ingredients, and we are proud to work with Tallgrass to find innovative solutions at facilities like Columbus,” he said.

Tallgrass echoed that sentiment. “This project proves that global impact grows from local roots,” said Alison Nelson, segment president of CO₂ business development and origination. She noted that more ethanol plants are preparing to join the system, signaling rising interest in large-scale CO₂ transport solutions.

According to Tallgrass, 12 ethanol plants are expected to connect to the Trailblazer mainline in the next year, and several have already begun shipping CO₂.

One of the early adopters is Mid America Agri Products/Wheatland, which began capturing CO₂ at its Madrid, Nebraska, ethanol plant on Oct. 3, with volumes moving through the Trailblazer line.

Green Plains is also expanding its CCS footprint. On Oct. 14, the company confirmed that its York, Nebraska, plant had fully operational CCS equipment and was sending CO₂ into the pipeline. Similar systems at its Central City and Wood River plants are expected to come online in the fourth quarter. Both projects began commissioning and ramp-up activities in late October following successful validation and startup.

Also Read: Carbon Capture Market Forecast: Policy Shifts Fuel Global Growth

Biofuels producer POET is expected to join the network as well. The company announced an agreement in February 2025 to link its Fairmont, Nebraska, facility to the Trailblazer system, positioning it to ship CO₂ once connected.

As more facilities join the network, the Trailblazer pipeline is emerging as a key piece of shared carbon sequestration infrastructure, supporting the Midwest’s push toward low-carbon fuels and industrial decarbonization.

Follow more news and views via our Climate & Environment and Featured Articles sections, and stay updated on the top ESG events to attend in 2025 for industry insights and networking.

Source: ETHANOL Producer Magazine