A $1.5 billion CO2 pipeline designed to transport emissions from ethanol plants in Nebraska and Iowa to a storage site in Wyoming is preparing to go live – and with it, a novel approach to community engagement.
Tallgrass Energy, the Kansas-based company behind the project, has created a revenue-sharing program that directs funding to rural towns along the pipeline’s 392-mile route.
The system, a converted natural gas pipeline, will soon begin moving CO2 from one of 11 ethanol facilities, with additional sites to follow.
Meanwhile, Tallgrass has launched the Trailblazer Community Investment Fund, pledging an initial $500,000 to be managed by the Nebraska Community Foundation.
Over the next decade, the company expects to distribute more than $7 million through the fund, supporting early childhood centers, elder care providers, food programs, and volunteer fire departments in 31 counties.
A New Model for Infrastructure Projects
The initiative emerged from negotiations with Bold Nebraska, a grassroots environmental group that once opposed Keystone XL but sought a more collaborative path with this project. Both organizations now describe the partnership as a template for balancing large-scale infrastructure development with meaningful community benefits.
Jane Kleeb, Bold Nebraska’s founder, emphasized that rural communities often bear the burdens of such projects without reaping tangible benefits.
Tallgrass executives framed the fund as a way to invest in the long-term well-being of local residents. “We hope that these investments serve to provide a safety net to our neighbors throughout their lifetimes,” said Kyle Quackenbush, the company’s segment president.
Relevant: POET And Tallgrass Announce Collaboration On Carbon Capture Project
The project also reflects broader federal ambitions. By making corn-based ethanol less carbon-intensive, the pipeline could boost its viability in markets such as sustainable aviation fuel — a key pillar of the Biden administration’s clean energy agenda.
For Nebraska’s farmers, that means new opportunities for their crops in a rapidly evolving energy economy.
Jeff Yost, CEO of the Nebraska Community Foundation, noted that more than 230 organizations are already eligible to apply for grants. He praised Tallgrass’s approach, saying it went beyond public relations. “I see these guys doing it for the right reasons,” Yost said.
Read more: From Corn To CO2: How The Midwest Is Powering The Carbon Capture Drive
