Pipeline Pivot Rewrites the Future of US Carbon Flow

Tallgrass project shows how repurposed gas lines could ease bottlenecks in US carbon capture

14 Nov 2025

Tallgrass is moving ahead with one of the US’s largest pipeline conversions, turning a decades-old natural gas corridor into a dedicated carbon dioxide route as developers look for faster ways to expand transport capacity. The project, cleared by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2023, comes as carbon capture investment grows but continues to face delays linked to planning and permitting.

The 392-mile Trailblazer pipeline, which once carried natural gas across the Midwest, is being adapted to move carbon from 11 ethanol plants in Nebraska and one in Iowa to a storage site in Wyoming. Operations are expected to begin in September 2025. Tallgrass says using existing pipe allows the company to cut both construction time and costs compared with building a new corridor.

The shift occurs as carbon capture projects increase nationwide, though many remain constrained by the limited number of pipelines able to carry compressed CO₂. Analysts warn that this shortage is slowing final investment decisions. Major operators, including ExxonMobil, have argued that reliable transport capacity is essential for expanding carbon capture at industrial scale. As one analyst noted, “capture systems cannot deliver results if the carbon has nowhere to go”.

Tallgrass’s model is drawing attention from energy companies looking to adapt long-standing networks for emissions reduction. By linking a cluster of ethanol plants to a single transport channel, the company shows how regional systems can be built more quickly and in stages. The approach has prompted pipeline owners to review older assets as potential candidates for conversion rather than closure.

Community groups continue to raise concerns over safety, monitoring standards and land use, highlighting the need for clear rules and strong oversight. Regulators are assessing how repurposed lines should be managed, particularly in rural areas where CO₂ infrastructure is expanding.

For now, Trailblazer is one of the most visible signs that the US carbon transport sector is entering a new phase. If similar conversions are pursued, developers say the country could create the basic network needed to support a growing low-carbon industrial economy.