Summit Carbon Solutions has announced a major partnership with Valero Energy Corporation to enhance low-carbon fuel production. Valero, the world's second-largest corn ethanol producer, will be shipping for Summit's pipeline in what is hailed as the largest carbon capture and storage project globally.
The collaboration will incorporate eight Valero ethanol plants located in Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, and South Dakota into Summit's initiative, adding an annual production of 1.1 billion gallons of ethanol. This move is expected to capture 3.1 million metric tons of CO2 each year, decreasing the carbon footprint of ethanol and expanding the market for low-carbon fuels.
Bruce Rastetter, Founder and Executive Chairman of Summit Agricultural Group, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership's potential to blend agricultural innovation with energy market growth. Summit Carbon Solutions CEO Lee Blank highlighted the project's focus on practical changes that benefit farm profitability, land values, and rural community support.
With Valero on board, Summit's project will now involve 57 ethanol production facilities in the upper Midwest, aiming to capture and store over 16 million metric tons of CO2 annually. This initiative represents a significant step toward reducing the carbon intensity of biofuel products and bolstering the agriculture and biofuels sectors.
