BlackRock-backed company Navigator CO2 has abandoned its plans to construct a 1,300-mile pipeline across the US Midwest for carbon emission collection and storage, according to Ars Technica. The project, named Heartland Greenway, faced significant opposition from local landowners and environmental activists. Regulatory processes and government unpredictability in South Dakota and Iowa were cited by Navigator CO2 as the primary challenges that led to the project’s discontinuation. The cancellation deals a blow to the fledgling carbon capture and storage (CCS) industry and represents a setback for the corn ethanol refining sector, which relies on CCS to reduce emissions.
Local landowners expressed concerns about safety and the potential seizure of their properties, while some environmentalists viewed CO2 pipelines as hazardous and a means to support the fossil fuel industry. The Coalition To Stop CO2 Pipelines celebrated the victory of Navigator’s project cancellation but acknowledged that another entity might take it over or find a different route through Illinois due to tax incentives provided by the federal government for carbon capture, transport, and storage. Wood Mackenzie, an energy research firm, suggests that rival carbon-capture company Summit Carbon Solutions could benefit from Navigator’s cancellation by potentially securing deals with the latter’s former customers.
This development signifies challenges faced by the carbon capture and storage industry and proves detrimental to the efforts of the carbon-intensive corn ethanol refining industry to reduce emissions. The opposition from local landowners and environmental campaigners demonstrates the resistance against CO2 pipelines and highlights concerns about safety and property seizures. Despite Navigator CO2’s decision to scrap the project, the likelihood of another entity taking over or finding alternative routes through Illinois indicates the potential for continued development in the sector. Summit Carbon Solutions could leverage the cancellation to its advantage by pursuing opportunities with Navigator’s former customers.
