PROJECT
Expanding the Economy, Reducing Emissions As Summit Carbon Solutions continues developing the world’s largest carbon capture and sequestration project, their vision remains the same – create jobs, boost markets, and permanently store CO2. By Summit Carbon Solutions
PHOTO: SUMMIT CARBON SOLUTIONS
Summit Carbon Solutions is moving forward with its plan to build the world’s largest carbon capture and sequestration project. This multi-billion dollar investment will connect ethanol biorefineries across five states in the upper Midwest, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, capture the carbon dioxide emissions from these facilities, compress these gases into a near liquid form, and transport it to North Dakota to be permanently and safely stored more than a mile underground. By capturing and permanently storing carbon dioxide emissions from partner ethanol biorefineries, Summit Carbon Solutions will cut the carbon footprint of their manufacturing process in half. In the process, this project will allow ethanol plants to access and sell their product at a premium in the growing low carbon fuel markets such as California, Oregon, Washington, and more. This shift will enhance the long-term economic viability of ethanol and maintain a strong market for corn growers who currently sell approximately half of their crops to local ethanol plants.
18 CARBON CAPTURE MAGAZINE ISSUE 1, 2022
“This project will be transformational for the ethanol industry and, by extension, the agriculture industry. Farmers and landowners in Iowa understand that ethanol production consumes more than 50% of our corn crop every year, which is a big reason why we’ve had early success signing hundreds of pipeline easements with farmers who have a vested interest in our success,” said Bruce Rastetter, CEO of Summit Agricultural Group. The ethanol industry plays a critical role across the United States. It supports 360,000 jobs, contributes more than $45 billion to annual U.S. GDP, utilizes approximately 40% of corn produced in the U.S., and provides a $14 billion boost to grain markets. Thirty-two facilities have signed onto the project, which will put the ethanol producers on track to become a net-zero fuel by 2030. In addition to unlocking significant economic opportunities in the years to come, this project will help capture up to 12 million tons of carbon dioxide every year, or the equivalent of removing 2.6 million vehicles from the road on an annual basis. “Siouxland Energy is proud to be part of a project that is trans-
