How a Retired Gas Pipeline Sparked a Carbon Capture Revolution

Tallgrass converts gas line for CO₂ transport, cutting costs and accelerating clean energy rollout

27 Oct 2025

Tallgrass Energy has launched the Trailblazer CO₂ corridor, a 390-mile pipeline linking Nebraska’s ethanol plants to underground carbon storage sites in Wyoming, marking a new phase in the U.S. drive to scale carbon capture.

Rather than building from scratch, Tallgrass repurposed an existing natural gas pipeline, a move approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2023. The conversion reduced costs and shortened regulatory delays, allowing the project to begin operating years ahead of rival networks still awaiting permits.

Commercial shipments began on October 3 2025 from Mid America Agri Products/Wheatland’s ethanol plant in Madrid, Nebraska. Once fully operational, the system is expected to transport more than 10mn tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

“This proves we don’t need to wait for every new permit to advance carbon reduction,” said Matt Sheehy, Tallgrass chief executive. “We turned what we already had into a driver of the energy transition.”

The launch comes as other carbon pipeline projects, including those led by Summit Carbon Solutions and Wolf Carbon Solutions, face resistance from landowners and state regulators. By reusing an existing route, Tallgrass has avoided many of the legal and political obstacles slowing new developments.

Analysts say Trailblazer could become a model for the sector, combining private capital, community partnerships and legacy infrastructure to accelerate decarbonisation. The project also stands to benefit from federal tax incentives tied to carbon storage, positioning it for early commercial gains.

Challenges remain, including ensuring a reliable supply of captured emissions and maintaining public confidence in pipeline safety. But industry observers view the Trailblazer network as a rare example of practical progress in a field often hindered by high costs and complex permitting.

If expansion proceeds as planned, the project could help establish the U.S. Midwest as a hub for carbon management and signal the emergence of a new national framework for transporting and storing captured CO₂.