Alto Ingredients, Inc. announced that it has entered into an exclusive nonbinding letter of intent and is nearing the execution of definitive agreements to develop a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project with Vault 44.01 (Vault) at Alto's Pekin campus in Pekin, IL. The letter of intent provides that Alto will install equipment to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) generated from the ethanol production process at its Pekin campus and Vault will safely transport and permanently store the emissions deep underground in a secure geologic reservoir located in close proximity to the campus. The project is intended to substantially reduce CO2 emissions from the ethanol production process and provide direct value to the surrounding communities.

Both Alto and Vault continue to engage with local stakeholders, landowners, and communities regarding the project. The Pekin campus produces approximately 250 million gallons of specialty alcohols and renewable fuel per year and generates over 600,000 metric tons of CO2 as a by-product of the corn fermentation process. Alto Ingredients intends for the project to enable the Pekin campus to continue to contribute employment and economic opportunities for the local communities while substantially reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide.