On April 15 AtmosClear, a portfolio company of Houston-based Fidelis, has secured a landmark agreement with Microsoft for the removal of 6.75 million metric tons of carbon dioxide over the next 15 years. According to the company, this is one of the largest engineered carbon removal deals in the world, and the contract will support the development of a new bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) facility at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge, Louisiana. With construction expected to begin in 2026 and operations starting in 2029, the project represents an $800 million investment and is set to create around 600 construction jobs and 75 permanent positions.
The Louisiana facility will use sustainable feedstocks such as sugarcane bagasse and forest trimmings to generate clean energy while capturing 680,000 metric tons of biogenic CO₂ annually for permanent storage or beneficial reuse. According to Fidelis, the project will also help revive local forestry management jobs that have been impacted by recent mill closures. In a press release, Daniel J. Shapiro, CEO of Fidelis, stated that “AtmosClear showcases how proven technologies, paired with sustainable feedstocks like sugarcane bagasse and forest management materials, can deliver meaningful climate impact while providing quality jobs, economic development, and other community benefits”.
The collaboration marks a major step forward for Microsoft in its commitment to becoming carbon negative by 2030. “We are proud to work with Fidelis on this pathbreaking project, which will bring together science, engineering, and commercial innovations to offer a compelling model for carbon removal in the United States,” said Brian Marrs, senior director of Energy & Carbon Removal at Microsoft, in the same press release. He emphasized the importance of high-quality, durable carbon removal solutions from experienced developers in achieving Microsoft’s sustainability goals.
Fidelis, which also has offices in Copenhagen, Denmark, is focused on advancing decarbonization through investments in low-carbon and carbon-negative infrastructure. The AtmosClear project underscores the growing market for engineered carbon removal technologies and positions Louisiana as a critical player in the global clean energy transition.
