Description
Biochar
The City of Minneapolis has many challenges in reducing waste, increasing climate resilience, and reaching our goal of being carbon-neutral. Reducing carbon emissions alone is not enough to reach carbon neutrality. We need a carbon-negative solution to balance out the emissions we can’t fully remove. One option is biochar. Emerald Ash Borer has damaged the urban forest. This has left behind large amounts of wood waste that will return carbon back into the air.
Biochar turns wood waste into a valuable product to improve:
- Soil health
- Drought resilience
- Agricultural production
- Urban forest health
- Stormwater runoff
- Sequester carbon
We helped pioneer municipal biochar in 2013. We signed an agreement with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community in 2014. The agreement was to provide biochar and compost blends. These blends help improve local food access in our Green Zones. It has since grown through several demonstrations. Our biochar program has gained national attention.
What we’re doing now
Biochar is our only carbon-negative solution to help offset the toughest emissions. We are building a City-owned and operated biochar facility that uses slow pyrolysis. To support this work, we made agreements with Xcel Energy, Hennepin County, and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.
Our partners will provide wood waste from:
- Maintenance activities
- Storm damage
- Diseased tree removals
The Carbon Sequestration Program will provide biochar to community groups in the Green Zones to support their projects. Our Public Works Department will also work to use biochar in city green spaces and stormwater devices. This program is a regional asset, providing biochar to other groups in the metro area.
We are partnering with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Department of Transportation, Department of Agriculture, and the University of Minnesota. Our partnership will work to develop uses and standards for biochar use. We are also collaborating with Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community on compost and biochar blends.
Learn More
Learn more about our Biochar facility
Learn more about the Biochar program
Learn more about the 2014 agreement to provide biochar to our Green Zones