2012 USBI National Conference

SBI has submitted a proposal, jointly with our partner the Sonoma Ecology Center, in response to the RFP issued by USBI for a group ready to sponsor the national biochar conference for 2012. Our proposal sets out dates in late July 2012 for a three-plus day event at Sonoma State University, with pre-conference and post-conference activities as well. We expect to hear the results of the selection process by October 18th.

We are very excited about the prospect of hosting the national biochar conference here next year with a rich program that takes particular advantage of the generous agricultural gifts with which the Sonoma Valley is endowed. We are particularly fired up over the prospect of joining the promise of biochar with the rich and varied agricultural, renewable energy and climate policy resources of the Sonoma Valley.

As we envision the conference next summer, the world class growing and wine making region combines with a powerful and growing local sustainable agricultural community to offer a number of unmatched experiences all within easy reach of the Sonoma State University conference facility.

To identify just a few specific potential matches with the growing promise of biochar within our immediate community or within very short distances, we are looking closely at  Shone Farm, Benziger Family Winery, the Farm Trails destinations, Sonoma Biochar’s planned production and distribution operations at Sonoma Compost, Luther Burbank’s Greenhouse and Gold Ridge Farm,  any number of CSAs, vineyards, dairies and small farms that have expressed a willingness to have biochar field trials in place within the year, as well as the Sonoma Grange, a leader in the New Grange movement.

We also expect a growing biochar presence to complement community interest in renewable energy and climate strategies, including the energy co-production planned for the Sonoma Biochar site, the work of the Regional Climate Protection Agency  and the Energy Independence Program,  Renewable Energy Secure Communities,   Transition Sonoma Valley,  and private efforts such as Sonoma Mountain Village, designed to be a model for sustainable urban community development, based on renewable energy, zero waste strategies, and urban green space.

We are looking forward to showcasing the broad and varied scope of Sonoma Valley’s forward-thinking agricultural, energy and environmental culture,  while adding the promise of vigorous and robust biochar production, application, research and education to our rich agricultural and environmental tradition.

 

Possible Biochar Production Technology Trial in Sonoma County

SBI continues to explore opportunities to bring one or more biochar production technologies into Sonoma County for pilot testing using local waste biomass feedstock
of various types. One option we are exploring is to use the Adam-retort technology system available from New England Biochar. A masonry production unit possibly could be constructed at Shone Farm, used both for testing and for training purposes. Alternatively, a steel transportable unit could be brought into the area for pilot project operations. SBI is also in contact with an inventor/entrepreneur in the San Francisco Bay Area to use his new prototype engine on Sonoma biomass wastes. This unit, expected to be available early in 2012, can directly combust woody wastes to generate electricity, with biochar emerging as a by-product.

These projects would each require a grant of some kind, either from a government agency like the US Department of Agriculture (SBIR grant program) or the California Energy Commission (PIER grant program) or financial support from a foundation. Over the next few months we will be exploring the feasibility of such proposals.

Testing Biochar in Sonoma Vineyards

SBI is engaged in conversations with a leading vineyard management company towards beginning to test biochar as a soil additive in grape growing — Sonoma’s dominant agricultural endeavor. We would acquire biochar of varying characteristics from different sources and study its impacts on soilb conditions and vineyard yields.

Linking Biochar to Sonoma’s Climate Action Plan

SBI continues to work closely with the county’s implementation team for the climate action plan — the Regional Climate Protection Authority, RCPA — in exploring ways to best integrate biochar into its emerging programs. These interactions include monthly work group sessions, the next of which is scheduled for September 26 at 9 AM at the Sonoma Ecology Center’s conference room in Glen Ellen, CA.

Biochar and Water Conservation

SBI and the Sonoma County Water Agency are jointly seeking ways to use biochar effectively to control runoff and preserve water efficiently. Projects devoted to this issue are being designed.