This is CDR: Municipal Biochar - Lessons from Minneapolis, and Lincoln
In this episode of This Is CDR, we are excited to welcome James Doten from the City of Minneapolis and Nash Leef, Founder of Flatwater Carbon, to discuss how their municipalities are pioneering new biochar operations at the local level. Minneapolis and Lincoln have both launched groundbreaking biochar programs that turn urban wood waste into a powerful climate and soil-enhancing solution. These initiatives showcase how cities can integrate biochar into urban sustainability efforts, from carbon sequestration to soil restoration and stormwater management.
Join us to learn how these municipal biochar programs were developed, their environmental and economic impacts, and what the future holds for biochar in city-scale carbon removal efforts.
About Our Guests
James Doten is the Carbon Sequestration Program Manager for the City of Minneapolis, where he has played a leading role in the city's biochar initiative. He has been instrumental in launching Minneapolis’s municipal biochar production facility, focusing on its applications for soil health, stormwater management, and urban tree planting.
Nash Leef is the Interim President of the Nebraska Biochar Initiative and the owner of Flatwater Carbon, a private company partnering with the City of Lincoln to implement its local biochar program. With a deep commitment to sustainable land management, he has worked extensively to advance biochar deployment in Lincoln, and across the region, helping to develop municipal strategies that enhance soil and water quality while reducing waste.
Don't miss this deep dive into how cities are harnessing biochar for climate action!