Mid America Agri Products/Wheatland (MAAPW) has begun capturing carbon dioxide at its Madrid, Nebraska, ethanol facility, becoming the first customer to use Tallgrass’ Trailblazer Pipeline for transport and permanent sequestration in Wyoming.
In a major boost for the Midwest’s low-carbon fuel industry, Mid America Agri Products/Wheatland (MAAPW) announced today the commencement of carbon dioxide capture at its Madrid, Nebraska, ethanol plant. This significant development also marks MAAPW as the inaugural customer to deliver CO2 volumes to the converted Tallgrass Trailblazer Pipeline, destined for permanent geologic sequestration in Wyoming.
The Madrid facility, which processes approximately 16.5 million bushels of corn annually to produce 48 million gallons of ethanol, as well as WDGS and corn oil, will now also capture its biogenic byproduct. This capture and sequestration process is key to lowering the carbon intensity score of the ethanol, making it more attractive for states and markets with low-carbon fuel standards.
This initiative is a realization of the long-term vision of MAAPW founder, the late Robert “Bob” Lundeen, a noted pioneer in Nebraska’s ethanol sector who championed continuous innovation. “This achievement honors my father’s belief in acting boldly for the future,” said Tina Lundeen Smith, MAAPW chairperson of the board and EVP of business development. She emphasized that the partnership with Tallgrass secures value for employees, creates stable demand for local corn growers, and ensures benefits flow directly into the supporting community.
The Trailblazer Pipeline, an existing pipeline converted by Tallgrass, plays a crucial role in enabling this large-scale decarbonization effort. Alison Nelson, segment president of CO2 business development and origination at Tallgrass, praised the vision of Nebraskans like Bob Lundeen, noting that the state is now “positioned at the forefront of the biofuel industry.” She added that Tallgrass is incredibly proud to work alongside MAAPW to “demonstrate how rural economies can thrive while setting the standard for global energy innovation.”
Echoing this sentiment, Kyle Quackenbush, Tallgrass’ segment president of commercial operations, remarked, “This project strengthens the entire biofuels ecosystem, enabling the production of low-carbon, high-value fuels and feedstocks, while unlocking new markets for Nebraska’s products and new opportunities for its communities.”
This partnership between MAAPW, a family-led company headquartered in North Platte, and Tallgrass, a leading energy infrastructure company with over 2,000 miles of pipeline infrastructure in Nebraska, solidifies the commitment of both entities to sustainable energy production and rural economic growth.
