From Oil Lines to Lifelines for the Planet

Tallgrass and ExxonMobil projects mark shift from fossil fuel transport to large-scale CO₂ storage

10 Nov 2025

The United States is entering a new phase in its transition to cleaner energy as companies begin converting oil and gas infrastructure into carbon dioxide transport routes.

Tallgrass this quarter completed the conversion of its Trailblazer pipeline into a 392-mile corridor that carries captured CO₂ from ethanol plants in Nebraska to a storage site in Wyoming. The project, supported by a network of regional connectors, represents one of the first large-scale repurposings of a fossil fuel pipeline for carbon management.

In Louisiana, ExxonMobil and CF Industries have launched a facility capable of capturing and transporting up to 2mn metric tonnes of CO₂ annually. Their partnership underscores growing collaboration between industrial emitters and energy companies to build shared transport and storage systems.

Industry analysts say such initiatives are transforming carbon capture from isolated projects into coordinated infrastructure. “We’re watching carbon pipelines evolve into a national network,” said one energy consultant. “This is the start of America’s carbon highway.”

Regulatory challenges remain. Pipeline safety requirements are tightening following public concerns over potential leaks and environmental risks. Rising construction costs and lengthy permitting processes continue to weigh on developers.

Even so, federal incentives under recent climate legislation have strengthened investor confidence, while public-private partnerships are helping to spread costs and expertise.

If development proceeds as planned, analysts expect the US could operate one of the world’s most advanced CO₂ transport systems by 2030. Pipelines that once delivered oil and gas may soon form the backbone of the country’s carbon management network, providing the physical foundation for its clean-energy transition.