Tallgrass, ADM Begin CO₂ Transport to Wyoming Storage via 400-Mile Trailblazer Pipeline
ADM and Tallgrass have started operations at the world’s largest bioethanol carbon capture facility in Columbus, Nebraska. The project connects ADM’s ethanol plant to Tallgrass’ Wyoming storage hub through a 400-mile CO₂ pipeline, marking a major milestone in large-scale CCS infrastructure.
COLUMBUS, Neb. (P&GJ) — ADM and Tallgrass have begun operations at what they describe as the world’s largest bioethanol carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility at ADM’s corn processing complex in Columbus, Nebraska.
The project captures carbon dioxide (CO₂) produced during ethanol production and transports it via Tallgrass’ Trailblazer pipeline to the company’s Eastern Wyoming Sequestration Hub for permanent underground storage.
The 400-mile Trailblazer pipeline, a converted natural gas line running through Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska, can carry more than 10 million tons of CO₂ per year. That’s equivalent to removing about 2 million passenger vehicles from the road, or roughly 25% of the total vehicles registered across the three states.
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As part of the project, Tallgrass built a lateral line connecting ADM’s Columbus facility to the Trailblazer system, securing all land rights through voluntary easements.
“ADM has been a pioneer in the CCS industry for more than a decade and this is an expansion of that expertise,” said Chris Cuddy, president of North America at ADM. “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.”
Tallgrass said the project underscores the growing role of infrastructure partnerships in scaling carbon capture technology. “This project proves that global impact grows from local roots,” said Alison Nelson, segment president of CO₂ business development and origination at Tallgrass. “We’re proud to stand with ADM in achieving this milestone.”