#235 This $100 BILLION Industry Is Hiding in Plain Sight! Big Oil's Bet on Carbon Capture

🚀 We’re back with another special episode of the CleanTechies Podcast—recorded live in Houston!

In this issue:

• Todd’s background and what he’s working on today (the deal tracker of carbon capture projects)

• What it takes to successfully develop a carbon capture project (all the parts)

• Why oil & gas is taking a continued interest in carbon capture

• Why he thinks the 45Q tax credit is here to stay even under Trump

Listen Time: Full Show 57:38 (unless you listen sped up 😉)

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This week, we’re joined by Todd Bush, an expert in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), with decades of experience supporting oil and gas companies in their decarbonization efforts. Todd has founded and sold multiple companies and is now leading decarbonfuse, a daily newsletter tracking deal activity in carbon capture and industrial decarbonization.

This conversation covers the current state of carbon capture, where the momentum is strongest, the biggest barriers to scaling CCUS, and how policy and investment shifts are shaping the industry. If you’re curious about where the carbon capture market is headed and how it intersects with industries like ethanol, hydrogen, and steel production, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

🔍 Topics Covered in This Episode

• The first movers in carbon capture: ethanol, ammonia, and natural gas

• The difference between Class 2 vs. Class 6 wells and why it matters

• How carbon capture projects get financed and what returns investors expect

• The role of policy (45Q tax credits, permitting hurdles, and regulatory uncertainty)

• Utilization of CO2—who’s buying it and why

• Why Houston and the Gulf Coast are primed to be the epicenter of CCUS

• What’s needed for carbon capture to reach private equity scale

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🎙 Guest: Todd Bush

Todd is a veteran in the energy and industrial decarbonization space, having built and exited multiple companies in energy analytics and decarbonization tracking. His current venture, Decarbon Fuse, provides real-time deal tracking for the carbon capture industry. He brings deep insights into how CCUS projects are developing, the hurdles they face, and where the biggest opportunities lie.

📝 Show Notes & Links

• 🔗 decarbonfuse Newsletter – Visit Here

• 🔗 Energy Tech Nexus & Digital Wildcatters – Visit Here

• 🔗 PRIMER: 45Q TAX CREDIT FOR CARBON CAPTURE PROJECTS – Read More

• 🔗 More on Class 6 vs. Class 2 Wells – EPA Guide

• Participate in the CleanTechies Listener Survey: Take Survey.

• Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn

• Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn

• This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Introduction to Carbon Capture

• 3:50 The Journey into Carbon Capture Solutions

• 6:55 Decarbonization Trends and Industry Perspectives

• 10:01 Carbon Capture Technologies and Their Applications

• 12:54 Regulatory Frameworks and Project Development

• 15:55 Community Engagement and Project Success Factors

• 19:41 Momentum in Carbon Capture and Community Engagement

• 22:57 Technological Bottlenecks and Adoption Rates

• 27:25 Talent Pool and Industry Transition

• 32:03 Regulatory Landscape and Future Outlook

• 40:14 Infrastructure and Project Viability

• 40:58 Carbon Utilization and Demand Areas

• 42:26 Scaling Carbon Projects

• 43:27 Challenges in CO2 Storage and Utilization

• 45:17 Gulf of Mexico Assets and Storage Solutions

• 46:37 Monitoring and Materials in CO2 Projects

• 47:37 Cost Structures and Financial Viability

• 51:32 Point Source Collection and Future Utilization

• 52:53 Tax Credits and Financial Incentives

• 54:47 Impact of Global Conflicts on Clean Energy Investment

💡 Favorite Quote from the Episode

"The real challenge isn’t just capturing CO2—it’s securing long-term agreements, navigating permitting, and building the financial case. The projects that solve for those will be the ones that scale." – Todd Bush

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