Tallgrass Energy declared a binding open season on its Trailblazer project, taking  another step toward converting the 400-mile natural gas pipeline into a CO2 transport line.

Tallgrass, an energy infrastructure company based in Denver, will operate the Trailblazer CO2 Pipeline. The open season seeks commitments for transporting customers’ captured CO2 in Nebraska in exchange for incentive tariff rates. The season started May 3 and will run for 21 days.

The line runs across Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado. According to the proposal, the CO2 would be stored in geologic formations in Wyoming.

Trailblazer has garnered attention as the energy industry considers CO2 transport and storage as one possible solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved Tallgrass’ proposed pipeline conversion in October 2023. FERC noted in its approval that some property owners along the pipeline’s path opposed the project because of safety concerns. Some groups also complained about potential environmental concerns.

FERC could not rule on the environmental concerns of transporting CO2. The commission stated it did not have jurisdiction over CO2 transport and could only rule on Tallgrass’ request to convert the pipeline from carrying natural gas to CO2.

On April 9, Tallgrass and Bold Alliance announced a “community benefits agreement” that created several community initiatives and landowner protection rights for the Trailblazer pipeline’s life cycle. 

Bold Alliance is a network of rural state environmental groups concerned with land and water issues, according to the group’s website. The agreement included $500,000 in funding for non-profit groups in counties along the path. Another $600,000 was set aside for the training and equipping of first responders in the area and $100,000 will go toward a public safety notification system.

Prospective shippers may review details of the open season after executing a confidentiality agreement obtained by contacting Tallgrass Senior Director of Origination Jeff Schaefer at Jeff.Schaefer@Tallgrass.com.

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