Summit Carbon Adds More Ethanol Plants to Midwest Carbon Express CO2 Pipeline Network

Summit Carbon Solutions announced a new partnership with Absolute Energy, an ethanol plant in Saint Ansgar, Iowa. Absolute Energy, operating since 2008 and producing approximately 130 million gallons of ethanol annually, joins Summit Carbon Solutions' carbon capture and storage project. The Saint Ansgar facility reduces the carbon intensity of ethanol by removing and sequestering 370,000 metric tons of CO2 through this partnership.

"We are pleased to welcome Absolute Energy as a partner," said Lee Blank, CEO of Summit Carbon Solutions. "Absolute Energy shares our goal of creating a decarbonized supply chain for ethanol and promoting the long-term sustainability of U.S. agriculture. Their commitment to excellence, high yields, and operational efficiency aligns perfectly with our mission."

>> RELATED: Summit Adds Nugen Ethanol in South Dakota

Summit Carbon Solutions is planning a $5.5 billion, 2,100-mile CO2 pipeline that will capture emissions from ethanol plants in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota. The captured CO2 will be transported to North Dakota and stored in geological "sinks."

This transformative project aims to capture and store up to 12 million tons of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to removing 2.6 million cars from the roads each year. By reducing the carbon footprint of ethanol production by up to 50%, the Midwest Carbon Express project will enhance the long-term sustainability of the ethanol and agriculture industries. The project is estimated to create 14,000 to 17,000 jobs during construction and 1,100 full-time jobs once operational.

Land Owner Concerns & Opposition

However, the expansion of carbon capture pipelines has faced challenges where residents and landowners have raised safety concerns regarding the proposed CO2 pipeline.

Locals and environmentalists have also raised concerns about groundwater contamination, as carbon dioxide stored underground could potentially impact water sources.

In North Dakota, Summit Carbon Solutions continues negotiating easements with landowners and has achieved significant progress, securing agreements with over 85% of its sequestration site in North Dakota as per Reuter’s report.

Critical CO2 Infrastructure Moves Forward

"We look forward to continuing to advance this critical infrastructure project that will open new economic opportunities for North Dakota's most critical industries – agriculture, energy, and ethanol – while at the same time generating tens of millions of dollars in new revenues for local communities across North Dakota and the Midwest," Summit Carbon Solutions' Executive Vice President Wade Boeshans said in a news release.

In February this year, The South Dakota House chamber has passed a bill limiting the use of eminent domain proceedings against landowners who do not want the line to go across their property.

Summit Carbon Solutions remains dedicated to its transformative project, striving for voluntary easements and collaborating with landowners who share their vision. Company says its goal has been 100% voluntary easements and is signing up new landowners daily.

Public hearings in Iowa on the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline will begin in October. The Iowa Utilities Board, on Feb. 17, announced that the time frame for public hearings will be from October 2023 to January 2024.

The Midwest Carbon Express project, with its extensive CO2 pipeline network, aims to reduce carbon emissions and create economic opportunities.

The Department of Energy has invested $4 million in research to address these concerns and ensure responsible carbon capture and storage practices. “Large scale carbon capture efforts are vital to getting America emissions free by 2050, and how we store this CO2 must be safe, secure and permanent,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm.

As Summit Carbon Solutions progresses with its transformative project, the company remains focused on forging strategic partnerships to drive progress. The business continues to leverage expertise and resources to overcome challenges and achieve its decarbonization goals by collaborating with key stakeholders.

Read more: Summit also announced yet another partnership with NuGen as partner ethanol plant in South Dakota in June. NuGen Energy, an ethanol plant in Marion, South Dakota, principally owned by REX American Resources (NYSE: REX).