Clean Maine Carbon is primarily owned by a group of life-long Mainers. We have a deep desire to see Maine thrive, especially in the more rural communities.
Our vision is to achieve market-based profitability for Greenville Biomass using biochar, provide stable, high quality jobs in Piscataquis County, and provide clean, firm energy and capacity to Northern Maine.
What is biochar?
Biochar is produced by burning biomass (organic material) in a low-oxygen environment. This process, known as pyrolysis, converts the carbon in the biomass to a form that resists decay. When the biochar is buried or added to soils, most of the carbon can remain in the soil for decades to centuries, given the right conditions. The process of growing plants or collecting waste biomass, converting that biomass to biochar, and adding the biochar to soils removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere: as plants grow, they remove CO2 from the atmosphere and use it to make more biomass; the carbon in that biomass gets converted to a stable form in biochar; and burying the biochar can keep the carbon out of the atmosphere for long periods of time. (Source: American University)
How is biochar made?
Low-grade waste wood is taken to the Greenville Biomass plant.
There, the material is burned in a high pressure boiler. This creates steam which powers a turbine.
The turbine creates energy which can be added to the power grid or used by off-grid customers.
Low-grade thermal energy will be provided to neighboring end users, such as schools and small hospitals.
The residue that remains after the material is burned is called “biochar.” It helps soil health and removes greenhouse gases.
Biochar is a global market with current revenues of over $90 Million.
Our vision is to achieve market-based profitability for Greenville Biomass using biochar, provide stable, high quality jobs in Piscataquis County, and provide clean, firm energy and capacity to Northern Maine.
Biochar is a global market with current revenues of over $90 Million.
Our vision is to achieve market-based profitability for Greenville Biomass using biochar, provide stable, high quality jobs in Piscataquis County, and provide clean, firm energy and capacity to Northern Maine.
As stewards of Greenville Biomass we believe we have a 3-prong opportunity.
INVEST
Revitalize Greenville
To date, Clean Maine Carbon has invested over $4 million dollars to bring Greenville Biomass online. Once operational, the owners will prioritize securing skilled labor and goods from the surrounding communities.
DIVERSIFY
Clean, Firm Energy
Biomass is the only Class IA resource able to provide continuous energy to the grid. Because its fuel source is waste-wood material – a plentiful resource in Maine – Greenville Biomass provides reasonably priced energy that can be relied on.
INNOVATE
From Waste to Revenue
Greenville Biomass is powered by the low-value waste wood material often left on the forest floor to rot and release CO2. There was no cost-effective use for it – until now. It’s carbon capturing properties make it ideal to reduce greenhouse gases.