California selects 8 projects for forest biomass to biofuels pilot program

California’s Department of Conservation is doling out U.S. $500,000 each to eight projects in the first phase of its pilot program designed to create carbon-negative fuels from forest residue management.

According to a government news release, the funds are part of the planning phase to support technology demonstration and planning activities that will help manage wildfire risks in California, develop rural economies and develop carbon-negative biofuels.

Phase 2 of the program will award between $10 and $20 million to up to four projects to establish the forest biofuels facilities.

The eight projects selected for Phase 1 include:

• Yosemite Clean Energy’s Sierra plant
• Yosemite Clean Energy’s Paradise plant
• Sierra Institute for Community and Environment’s Nor Cal waste-to-renewable hydrogen project
• Mote, Inc.’s Sacramento hydrogen Project 1
• Arbor Energy and Resources Corporation’s Arbor biomass gasification facility
• Kore Infrastructure, LLC’s Kore/Tule River biofuel facility
• Biogas Energy Inc.’s Cabin Creek biomass pyrolysis facility
• Redding Rancheria Economic Development Corporation’s RREDCO biofuels pilot program