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Four awards were selected through the 4 Corners Carbon Coalition’s Carbon Removal + Liability Biomass campaign, supporting innovative startups and nonprofits across the Four Corners states. These projects explored diverse pathways for turning “liability biomass”—ranging from overgrown wildfire-prone forest debris to municipal biosolids—into durable forms of carbon storage. Spanning biochar, burial, and concrete applications, the selected projects combined carbon removal with wildfire risk reduction, landfill diversion, and local economic development, offering replicable models for circular, place-based climate solutions.
Bioforcetech Corporation, based in San Francisco, received support from the 4 Corners Carbon Coalition to demonstrate how OurCarbon—a biochar made from municipal organic waste—can be used to store carbon in concrete and asphalt. The project included a full-scale concrete pour in Flagstaff, Arizona, and testing with local partners like Block-Lite to explore construction applications for this carbon-sequestering material.
By converting municipal organic waste into a certified biochar and durable building input, the project helps divert waste from landfills, reduce methane emissions, and replace virgin aggregates with a circular, climate-positive alternative.
Woodcache PBC, a climate-tech startup based in Provo, Utah, received support from the 4 Corners Carbon Coalition to launch its first full-scale project using woody biomass burial (WBB) to remove and store carbon. The project, located in La Veta, Colorado, turned wildfire-prone waste wood into a durable carbon sink by burying it in dry, oxygen-poor soil and sealing it with a specialized cap.
By locking away over 1,000 tonnes of CO₂ in this first batch alone, Woodcache’s approach not only mitigates wildfire risk but also delivers durable carbon removal with co-benefits like cleaner air and healthier watersheds—while creating jobs in rural communities.
Carba Inc., based in Minnesota, received support from the 4 Corners Carbon Coalition to explore how its low-temperature pyrolysis technology can turn waste wood into biochar for long-term carbon storage and landfill use. The project focuses on converting municipal wood waste into charcoal, which can then be used as a carbon-sequestering daily cover in landfills—a method that sequesters CO₂ while also supporting more sustainable waste management.With early engagement from Flagstaff, Arizona, Carba’s project includes collecting biomass samples, processing them into biochar at its Burnsville reactor, and testing the product's effectiveness with local landfill operators.
By piloting this approach across Northern Arizona, the project aims to unlock new markets for durable, landfill-integrated carbon removal, while demonstrating a scalable and community-friendly use for excess woody biomass.
Gila WoodNet, a nonprofit based in Silver City, New Mexico, received support from the 4 Corners Carbon Coalition to scale its circular economy model for converting forest waste into climate-positive products. The project focused on turning liability biomass—woody debris from wildfire-prone forests—into biochar and renewable heat using small-scale pyrolysis systems developed by Trollworks.
The resulting biochar was used to enrich soils and lock away carbon for centuries, while the captured heat supported nearby buildings and industrial processes.The grant funded new forest equipment and infrastructure to help Gila WoodNet harvest and process more biomass efficiently. It also supported the design and prototyping of additional pyrolysis-based energy systems for use in public buildings and small businesses throughout Silver City and Grant County.
By creating a replicable local model, the project reduced wildfire risk, improved forest health, created local jobs, and removed up to 1,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, with plans to expand across the region.
Liability biomass refers to low-value, excess organic material—like dead trees, brush, forest thinnings, and even municipal biosolids—that accumulates across landscapes and infrastructure systems. In forests, this buildup drives extreme wildfire risk; in cities, it burdens wastewater systems and landfills. While often treated as waste, this material holds untapped climate value.
Biomass stores atmospheric carbon. If it decomposes or burns, that carbon is released back into the atmosphere. But with the right technologies—like pyrolysis, burial, or mineralization—it can be stabilized and stored for decades to centuries. These approaches transform waste into durable carbon sinks, a core strategy for reaching net-zero emissions.
The Four Corners region is on the frontlines of both wildfire and climate risk. Many communities already pay to manage liability biomass. This campaign helps them turn that burden into a climate opportunity—by supporting projects that reduce fire danger, protect watersheds, create local jobs, and permanently remove CO₂ from the atmosphere.
Yes—if done right. The World Resources Institute and RMI emphasize that sustainability depends on sourcing residual biomass (not cutting down trees for carbon credits), minimizing ecological disruption, and avoiding competition with food systems. All 4CCC-funded projects rely on waste biomass streams and are designed to reduce environmental and social risks, not increase them.
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