Navigator CO2 Ventures LLC on Oct. 20 cancelled development of its proposed Heartland Greenway CO2 pipeline project, citing permitting issues, specifically “the unpredictable nature of the regulatory and government processes involved.” 

Navigator first announced plans to construct and operate the CO2 pipeline project in March 2021. If developed as planned, the project would have stretched approximately 1,300 miles across five Midwestern states, transporting CO2 produced at more than 21 ethanol and fertilizer plants to Illinois for permanent secure underground sequestration. The captured CO2 could have also been piped to third parties for use in commercial and/or industrial applications.

The planned footprint of the Heartland Greenway pipeline project spanned areas in South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois. 

In a statement released Oct. 20, Navigator indicated that the development of the pipeline project has been challenging, particularly in South Dakota and Iowa. 

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission on Sept. 26 denied Navigator’s permit to build and operate the 111.9 miles of Heartland Greenland pipeline that was planned for development in the southeast region of the state where it would have connected to three of the state’s ethanol plants. In its order, the South Dakota PUC said Navigator failed to prove the project would not substantially impair the welfare of those located within the siting area. The agency also said Navigator failed to prove the project would not pose a serious threat to the environment or economic condition of citizens located within the siting area. Navigator had 30 days to appeal the denial.

The South Dakota PUC’s denial of the permit followed a separate order issued by the agency earlier in September denying a motion filed by Navigator to preempt county ordinances under a portion of South Dakota state law that allows the PUC to supersede or preempt county or municipal land use, zoning, or building rules, regulations or ordinances to ensure that energy requirements of the people within the state are filled. 

On September 29, Navigator filed a request with the Iowa Utilities Board to pause work on its permit as the company reviewed the proposed pipeline route and technical specifications in light of decisions from regulatory authorities in neighboring states and individual landowner requests. 

Less than two weeks later, on Oct. 10, Navigator filed a motion with the Illinois Commerce Commission requesting to voluntary withdraw a permit application to build nearly 300 miles of CO2 pipeline within the state. The motion cited the company’s plans to reassess the route and other aspects of the Navigator Heartland Greenway pipeline project. 

Navigator has now cancelled plans for the entire project. “As good stewards of capital and responsible managers of people, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Heartland Greenway project,” said Matt Vining, CEO of Navigator CO2. “We are disappointed that we will not be able to provide services to our customers and thank them for their continued support.”

 “I am proud that throughout this endeavor, our team maintained a collaborative, high integrity, and safety-first approach and we thank them for their tireless efforts,” Vining continued. “We also thank all the individuals, trade associations, labor organizations, landowners, and elected officials who supported us and carbon capture in the Midwest.”

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association issued a statement stressing how important carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects are to the future of the ethanol industry. “IRFA support CCS projects as the best way to align ethanol production with the increasing demand for low carbon fuels both at home and abroad,” said Monte Shaw, executive director of the IRFA. “CCS is the essential key to unlocking the 100-billion-gallon sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market for agriculture, in the long term. If realized, the SAF market would trigger the largest rural economic boom since the introduction of corn hybrids. It is not an overstatement to say that decisions made over the next few months will likely place agriculture on one of two paths. One would lead to 1990s stagnation as corn production exceeds demand, and the other opens new market opportunities larger than anything we’ve ever seen before. IRFA will fight for a prosperous farming future.

“Over the last year, we have been disappointed with the amount of disinformation that has been spread among the public and the regulators across multiple states,” Shaw continued. “That does not happen by accident. Rather, it is being pushed by groups who oppose modern agriculture and whose stated mission is to destroy farming as we know it. While we respect Navigator’s decision, IRFA will continue to support multiple other CCS projects and we expect ultimate success.”