Washington state signs LOI with Myno Carbon for biochar strategy

In Washington state, Washington State Department of Natural Resources signed a letter of intent with Myno Carbon Corp. to collaborate on a two-pronged strategy for using biochar – a carbon-rich product created from slash and other byproducts of forest restoration treatments and timber harvests – to sequester carbon and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in Eastern Washington.

DNR’s 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan for Eastern Washington, published in 2017, highlights how biochar can support the overarching forest health goals of DNR and its many partners. The black, highly porous material created when biomass is placed in an oxygen-limited environment and subjected to temperatures well above 500 C has been shown to improve soil health, enhance drought resilience, and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers in agriculture.

Through this partnership, Myno and Avista Utilities will take in unmerchantable slash residuals from DNR-managed timberlands to produce renewable electricity and biochar, locking away that carbon into a material that does not degrade.