Key Takeaways
- POET and Tallgrass have signed definitive agreements to connect POET’s Fairmont, Nebraska bioprocessing facility to the Tallgrass Trailblazer CO2 pipeline.
- The captured bioCO2 will be transported to Wyoming for permanent underground sequestration, reducing the carbon intensity of bioethanol production.
- Tallgrass is converting an existing natural gas pipeline for CO2 transport, minimizing the need for new infrastructure.
- The project supports Nebraska corn growers, bioethanol producers, and local landowners, aligning with Trailblazer’s Community Benefits Agreement.
- Commercial operations are expected to begin in 2025, furthering carbon reduction efforts in the biofuels industry.
POET to Capture and Store BioCO2 Through Tallgrass Pipeline
POET, the world’s largest biofuels producer, and Tallgrass, a leading infrastructure company, have entered into definitive agreements to integrate POET Bioprocessing – Fairmont in Nebraska with the Tallgrass Trailblazer CO2 pipeline.
Under the agreement, bioCO2 from POET’s ethanol production process will be captured and transported to Wyoming for permanent underground sequestration. The initiative is expected to significantly reduce the carbon intensity of bioethanol, creating new market opportunities for farmers and producers in Nebraska.
Jeff Broin, POET Founder and CEO, stated: “POET is excited to join the Tallgrass Trailblazer project. Carbon capture is a tremendous opportunity to create significant value for farmers and bioethanol producers while strengthening rural communities and counties in Nebraska and across the Midwest. We believe this initiative—and similar carbon capture projects—will play an important role in unleashing even more opportunities for agriculture in the future.”
Tallgrass Trailblazer Pipeline to Begin Operations in 2025
The Tallgrass Trailblazer project is currently under construction, with commercial operations expected to launch in 2025. The pipeline is being repurposed from an existing natural gas pipeline, which has operated safely for over a decade. This conversion helps minimize the need for additional infrastructure, streamlining the transition to CO2 transport for sequestration.
Alison Nelson, Segment President of CO2 Business Development and Origination at Tallgrass, commented: “We are excited to be collaborating with POET in Nebraska and are proud that our work with them will broadly benefit the Nebraskan communities associated with the project and continue to add value across the state’s bioeconomy.”
Economic & Environmental Benefits for Nebraska Agriculture
By integrating carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) into its Fairmont bioprocessing facility, POET aims to:
✔ Lower the carbon intensity of bioethanol, making it more competitive in low-carbon fuel markets.
✔ Create new revenue streams for Nebraska corn growers and ethanol producers.
✔ Provide direct financial benefits to landowners and communities through the Trailblazer Community Benefits Agreement.
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