America Lays the Pipes for a Cleaner Future

US$1B in public and private funding aims to build a national CO₂ pipeline network for clean energy growth

3 Nov 2025

A national web of carbon pipelines is moving from concept to construction. The United States is advancing plans to build the infrastructure needed to move captured carbon dioxide, a critical link in its net-zero ambitions, with up to $500m in federal funding and an equal sum from private investors.

In May 2024 the Department of Energy (DOE) unveiled a scheme to support shared CO₂ transport networks connecting industrial emitters to storage sites. Reopened in December, the programme aims to replace isolated projects with an integrated system spanning state lines. “Pipelines are the bridge that turns ambition into action,” noted one analyst.

Private firms are eager to join in. BKV, an American energy producer, and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners have committed $500m to a joint venture for large-scale capture and storage projects. The combination of public and private spending marks a shift from policy talk to physical progress.

The logic is simple. Capturing carbon is pointless if it cannot be moved or stored safely. Efficient transport could make the process cheaper and attract further investment in clean industry. A connected network would also help the United States cement its claim to leadership in low-carbon technology.

Regulatory and social hurdles persist. Building new pipelines means navigating complex permitting rules and winning over sceptical communities. The DOE hopes that strict safety standards, continuous leak detection and transparent oversight will calm fears and speed approvals.

Billions in future projects now hinge on how swiftly these early networks take shape. If they succeed, the same pipelines that once symbolised America’s fossil-fuel dominance could become arteries of a cleaner, more resilient economy.