11 Mar, 2024
Myno Plans to Build its First Large-Scale Biochar Carbon Removal Facility in Port Angeles, Washington

Myno plans to build its first large-scale biochar Carbon Removal Facility (CRF) in Port Angeles, Washington State. Once built, the facility will be the largest biochar co-generation facility in North America.  

The facility will pyrolyze approximately 183,000 Bone Dry Tons (BDT) of sustainably harvested biomass to produce 70,000 tons of biochar and co-generate 20MW of baseload renewable electricity. The CRF will remove 96,000 MT of C02e per year in the form of biochar and avoid 200,000 MT of C02e per year by mitigating in-woods slash pile burning, as well as downstream emission reductions from biochar application. 

Currently in the engineering design phase, the CRF is expected to be completed and operational in Q1 of 2027. The CRF is differentiated by three revenue streams: 1) producing high-quality biochar as a carbon-negative material, 2) generating renewable electricity, and 3) creating carbon removal credits.   

Future site of the Port Angeles Carbon Removal Facility.

Port Angeles is a rural timber community and is defined as a “disadvantaged community” according to the US Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool due to the number of households with income ≤2 times the federal poverty level.   

The CRF will generate a multitude of economic and environmental benefits to Port Angeles and the broader region, including:  

1) Expanding rural economic development through the creation of green jobs at the facility and in the surrounding communities. 

2) Increasing access to biochar products to catalyze regenerative agriculture, reduce chemical fertilizer use, and increase yield across Washington State’s agricultural lands.   

3) Diverting excess biomass to improve regional forest health, reduce wildfire risk, and improve regional air quality from preventing slash burning and landfilling of mill residual waste streams.  

4) Removing and avoiding carbon dioxide pollution through biochar production. 

5) Generating affordable, renewable baseload electricity in an underserved community to decrease reliance on fossil-derived power 

In early February 2024, Myno team members met with Chris Cassidy, a Senior National Renewable Energy Advisor with the USDA, alongside Hermann Brothers to visit the site of the future Carbon Removal Facility (CRF) in Port Angeles. The site visit was followed by a productive and well-attended community stakeholder meeting about the project, with representatives from City of Port Angeles, Office of Senator Cantwell, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Clallam County Economic Development Council, the Port of Port Angeles, among others.

Of the many themes which emerged from the meeting’s discussions, these three stood out:  

1) A strong desire for a reliable and local source of renewable energy for the Olympic Peninsula.
 

2) The cascading benefits of sourcing sustainable biomass for biochar production for both forest health and economic opportunity in rural communities. 

3) The need to advance the project as quickly as possible to have the greatest impact on mitigating the climate crisis.  

Myno, Hermann Brothers, and USDA representatives at a site visit of the future Port Angeles Carbon Removal Facility.

Myno CRFs address the climate crisis head on by sequestering carbon and producing renewable baseload energy, advancing multiple state-wide targets including Washington’s forest health, greenhouse gas reduction, and 100% clean electricity goals. Myno is thrilled that our first Biochar CRF will be built in Port Angeles! Together, we’ll #makecarbonhistory. 

Port Angeles Stakeholder Community Meeting to introduce the project and answer questions about the CRF.