Green Plains Inc (GPRE) has reached a major operational milestone, confirming that biogenic carbon from all three of its Nebraska ethanol plants – Central City, Wood River and York – is now being capture d and permanently stored.
The captured emissions are transported via the Trailblazer pipeline and injected at Tallgrass’s carbon storage hub in southeastern Wyoming, completing an end-to-end carbon capture and sequestration chain.
The achievement marks an important step for both the company and the broader Nebraska bioeconomy, positioning low-carbon ethanol more competitively in regulated fuel markets.
Carbon Capture Unlocks Clean Fuel Credits
Green Plains has already received its first payment under the US 45Z clean fuel production tax credit, totaling approximately $14 million and covering a portion of its 2025 production. Additional payments tied to remaining 2025 credits are expected in early 2026.
Prior to commissioning the carbon capture systems, the company recorded roughly $26.5 million in 45Z value through September. Because credit levels under the 45Z program are tied to fuel carbon intensity, Green Plains expects per-gallon credit values to rise as emissions continue to decline across its operations.
Relevant: ADM Launches World’s Largest Bioethanol Carbon Capture Facility in Nebraska
Company executives say the Nebraska rollout validates its low-carbon platform and sets the stage for further expansion.
With capture infrastructure now fully operational, Green Plains plans to advance its broader decarbonization strategy while targeting long-term performance gains.
While the company’s share price has declined over the past year in line with the wider sector, management views carbon capture as a core lever for future growth in an increasingly carbon-constrained fuel market.
Read more: Nebraska CO2 Pipeline Launches With First-of-Its-Kind Community Fund
