Erich J Knight

Don't Throw Biofuels Out with the Bathwater

A Biofuel that builds Soil Carbon;

All political persuasions agree, building soil carbon is GOOD.
To Hard bitten Farmers, wary of carbon regulations that only increase their costs, Building soil carbon is a savory bone, to do well while doing good.

Biochar provides the tool powerful enough to cover Farming's carbon foot print while lowering cost simultaneously.

Another significant aspect of bichar is removal of BC aerosols by low cost ($3) Biomass cook stoves that produce char but no respiratory disease emissions. At Scale, replacing "Three Stone" stoves the health benefits would equal eradication of Malaria.
terrapretapot.org/ and village level systems biocharfund.org/
The Congo Basin Forest Fund (CBFF).recently funded The Biochar Fund $300K for these systems citing these priorities;
(1) Hunger amongst the world's poorest people, the subsistence farmers of Sub-Saharan Africa,
(2) Deforestation resulting from a reliance on slash-and-burn farming,
(3) Energy poverty and a lack of access to clean, renewable energy, and
(4) Climate change.

The Biochar Fund :
Exceptional results from biochar experiment in Cameroon
scitizen.com/screens/b...

www.carboncommentary.c...

The broad smiles of 1500 subsistence farmers say it all ( that , and the size of the Biochar corn root balls )
biocharfund.org/index....

Mark my words;
Given the potential for Laurens Rademaker's programs to grow exponentialy, only a short time lies between This man's nomination for a Noble Prize.


This authoritative PNAS article should cause the recent Royal Society Report to rethink their criticism of Biochar systems of Soil carbon sequestration;

Reducing abrupt climate change risk using
the Montreal Protocol and other regulatory
actions to complement cuts in CO2 emissions
www.pnas.org/content/e...


There are dozens soil researchers on the subject now at USDA-ARS.
and many studies at The up coming ASA-CSSA-SSSA joint meeting;
a-c-s.confex.com/crops...


The Clean Energy Partnerships Act of 2009
The bill is designed to ensure that any US domestic cap-and-trade bill provides maximum incentives and opportunities for the US agricultural and forestry sectors to provide high-quality offsets and GHG emissions reductions for credit or financial incentives. Carbon offsets play a critical role in keeping the costs of a cap-and-trade program low for society as well as for capped sectors and entities, while providing valuable emissions reductions and income generation opportunities for the agricultural sector. The bill specifically identifies biochar production and use as eligible for offset credits, and identifies biochar as a high priority for USDA R&D, with funding authorized by the bill.
To read the full text of the bill, go to: www.biochar-internatio....


Senator Baucus is co-sponsoring a bill along with Senator Tester (D-MT) called WE CHAR. Water Efficiency via Carbon Harvesting and Restoration Act! It focuses on promoting biochar technology to address invasive species and forest biomass. It includes grants and loans for biochar market research and development, biochar characterization and environmental analyses. It directs USDI and USDA to provide loan guarantees for biochar technologies and on-the-ground production with an emphasis on biomass from public lands. And the USGS is to do biomas availability assessments.
WashingtonWatch.com - S. 1713, The Water Efficiency via Carbon Harvesting and Restoration (WECHAR) Act of 2009

Individual and groups can show support for WECHAR by signing online at:
biocharmatters.org
www.biocharmatters.org/


Congressional Research Service report (by analyst Kelsi Bracmort) is the best short summary I have seen so far - both technical and policy oriented.
assets.opencrs.com/rpt... .

United Nations Environment Programme, Climate Change Science Compendium 2009
www.unep.org/compendiu.../
www.unep.org/compendiu...


Endorsements;
Bill Clinton said Biochar;
Mantria Industries inducted in Clinton Global Intuitive
www.mantria.com/eg_pre...

Al Gore got the CO2 absorption thing wrong, ( at NABC Vilsack did same), but his focus on Soil Carbon is right on;
www.newsweek.com/id/22...

Research:
The future of biochar - Project Rainbow Bee Eater
www.sciencealert.com.a...

Japan Biochar Association ;
www.geocities.jp/yasiz...


Carbon to the Soil, the only ubiquitous and economic place to put it.
Cheers,
Erich

Geoengineering, Emissions Curbs and the Ongoing Energy Debate

Agriculture allowed our cultural accent and Agriculture will now prevent our descent.

Wise Land management; Organic farming and afforestation can build back our soil carbon,

Biochar allows the soil food web to build much more recalcitrant organic carbon, ( living biomass & Glomalins) in addition to the carbon in the biochar.

Biochar, the modern version of an ancient Amazonian agricultural practice called Terra Preta (black earth, TP), is gaining widespread credibility as a way to address world hunger, climate change, rural poverty, deforestation, and energy shortages… SIMULTANEOUSLY!
Modern Pyrolysis of biomass is a process for Carbon Negative Bio fuels, massive Carbon sequestration, 80%-90% Lower Methane & N2O soil emissions, and 2X Fertility Too.
Every 1 ton of Biomass yields 1/3 ton Charcoal for soil Sequestration (= to 1 Ton CO2e) + Bio-Gas & Bio-oil fuels = to 1MWh exported electricity, so is a totally virtuous, carbon negative energy cycle.

Biochar viewed as soil Infrastructure; The old saw;
"Feed the Soil Not the Plants" becomes;
"Feed, Cloth and House the Soil, utilities included !".
Free Carbon Condominiums with carboxyl group fats in the pantry and hydroxyl alcohol in the mini bar.
Build it and the Wee-Beasties will come.
Microbes like to sit down when they eat.
By setting this table we expand husbandry to whole new orders & Kingdoms of life.

This is what I try to get across to Farmers, as to how I feel about the act of returning carbon to the soil. An act of penitence and thankfulness for the civilization we have created. Farmers are the Soil Sink Bankers, once carbon has a price, they will be laughing all the way to it.

Dr. Scherr's report includes biochar. www.worldwatch.org/nod...

I think we will be seeing much greater media attention for land management & biochar as reports like her's come out linking the roll of agriculture and climate.

Unlike CCS which only reduces emissions, biochar systems draw down CO2 every energy cycle, closing a circle back to support the soil food web. The photosynthetic "capture" collectors are up and running, the "storage" sink is in operation just under our feet. Pyrolysis conversion plants are the only infrastructure we need to build out.

Another significant aspect of bichar and aerosols are the low cost ($3) Biomass cook stoves that produce char but no respiratory disease. terrapretapot.org/ and village level systems biocharfund.org/ with the Congo Basin Forest
Fund (CBFF). The Biochar Fund recently won $300K for these systems citing these priorities;
(1) Hunger amongst the world's poorest people, the subsistence farmers of Sub-Saharan Africa,
(2) Deforestation resulting from a reliance on slash-and-burn farming,
(3) Energy poverty and a lack of access to clean, renewable energy, and
(4) Climate change.
The broad smiles of 1500 subsistence farmers say it all ( that , and the size of the Biochar corn root balls )
biocharfund.org/index....

There are dozens soil researchers on the subject now at USDA-ARS.
and many studies at The up coming ASA-CSSA-SSSA joint meeting;
a-c-s.confex.com/crops...

Building Soil Carbon is the bond that unities all political persuasions,

Soil Carbon Sequestration Standards Committee. Hosted by Monsanto, this group of diverse interests has been hammering out issues of definition, validation and protocol. These past months, this group have been pressing soil sequestration's roll for climate legislation to congress.
www.novecta.com/docume...

Along these lines internationally, the work of the IBI fostering the application by 20 countries for UN recognition of soil carbon as a sink with biochar as a clean development mechanism will open the door for programs across the globe.
www.biochar-internatio....

Carbon to the Soil, the only ubiquitous and economic place to put it.
Cheers,
Erich

Abbott Records a 35% Reduction in Oil and Gas Usage

This story just shows ABT's common sense, as Walmart labels a product 's carbon foot print, process heat (really no such thing as "Waste Heat") is the low hanging fruit.
I hope Walmart's efforts will drive a movement for Carbon ratings on energy sources.
Also, I think that origin labels, (even in % if blended) could inform consumer's choice.


If your looking for an ABT related stock,
The Message boards pundits, say that NNLX is in ABT's sights.

Energy Myths for the 21st Century

* Living4Divi...said;
"We can have our cheap energy cake and eat it too".
That is an absolute truth when Biomass Carbon Capture & Sequestration (BCCS) is utilized.
Building soil carbon is the common bond that unities all political persuasions.
Senator Baucus is co-sponsoring a bill along with Senator Tester (D-MT) called WE CHAR. Water Efficiency via Carbon Harvesting and Restoration Act! It focuses on promoting biochar technology to address invasive species and forest biomass. It includes grants and loans for biochar market research and development, biochar characterization and environmental analyses. It directs USDI and USDA to provide loan guarantees for biochar technologies and on-the-ground production with an emphasis on biomass from public lands. And the USGS is to do biomass availability assessments.

Biochar Soils.....Husbandry of whole new orders & Kingdoms of life

Biotic Carbon, the carbon transformed by life, should never be combusted, oxidized and destroyed. It deserves more respect, reverence even, and understanding to use it back to the soil where 2/3 of excess atmospheric carbon originally came from. Agriculture allowed our cultural accent and Agriculture will now prevent our descent.

Biochar allows the soil food web to build much more recalcitrant organic carbon, ( living biomass & Glomalins) in addition to the carbon in the biochar.

Biochar, the modern version of an ancient Amazonian agricultural practice called Terra Preta (black earth, TP), is gaining widespread credibility as a way to address world hunger, climate change, rural poverty, deforestation, and energy shortages… SIMULTANEOUSLY!
Modern Pyrolysis of biomass is a process for Carbon Negative Bio fuels, massive Carbon sequestration, 80%-90% Lower Methane & N2O soil emissions, and 2X Fertility Too.
Every 1 ton of Biomass yields 1/3 ton Charcoal for soil Sequestration (= to 1 Ton CO2e) + Bio-Gas & Bio-oil fuels = to 1MWh exported electricity, so is a totally virtuous, carbon negative energy cycle.

Biochar viewed as soil Infrastructure; The old saw;
"Feed the Soil Not the Plants" becomes;
"Feed, Cloth and House the Soil, utilities included !".
Free Carbon Condominiums with carboxyl group fats in the pantry and hydroxyl alcohol in the mini bar.
Build it and the Wee-Beasties will come.
Microbes like to sit down when they eat.
By setting this table we expand husbandry to whole new orders & Kingdoms of life.

This is what I try to get across to Farmers, as to how I feel about the act of returning carbon to the soil. An act of penitence and thankfulness for the civilization we have created. Farmers are the Soil Sink Bankers, once carbon has a price, they will be laughing all the way to it.

Unlike CCS which only reduces emissions, biochar systems draw down CO2 every energy cycle, closing a circle back to support the soil food web. The photosynthetic "capture" collectors are up and running, the "storage" sink is in operation just under our feet. Pyrolysis conversion plants are the only infrastructure we need to build out.

There are dozens soil researchers on the subject now at USDA-ARS.
and many studies at The up coming ASA-CSSA-SSSA joint meeting;
a-c-s.confex.com/crops...

Major Endorsements:

Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar & Sec of Ag Tom Vilsack
NASA's Dr. James Hansen
Dr. James Lovelock (Gaia hypothesis) says Biochar is "The only hope for mankind"
Charles Mann ("1491")
Tony Blair & Richard Branson in the UK and conservative party opposition leader John Turnbull in Oz.

Reports:
This new Congressional Research Service report (by analyst Kelsi Bracmort) is the best short summary I have seen so far - both technical and policy oriented.
assets.opencrs.com/rpt... .

This is the single most comprehensive report to date, covering more of the Asian and Australian work;
www.csiro.au/files/fil...

Biochar data base;
TP-REPP
terrapreta.bioenergyli...

Given the current "Crisis" atmosphere concerning energy, soil sustainability, food vs. Biofuels, and Climate Change what other subject addresses them all?
.
Carbon to the Soil, the only ubiquitous and economic place to put it.
Cheers,
Erich

Book Review: Investment Opportunities for a Low Carbon World (Cleantech Indexes, Funds and ETFs)

Here are my Green Favorites;

ALTI - Nano Lithium Batteries
BCON - Flywheels
DYMTF.OB - Biomass fuels & Biochar Carbon Sequestration
NNLX.PK - H2 Bio-Reactors, Biotech Test Kits; Black plague, Anthrax , E coli bacteria, & viruses in the pipeline (H1N1?)
INTK.PK - Nano Insulating paint

ETF's;
PXN - Nano Tech
TINY - Nano Tech

Megatrend Companies Summary

5c) Pandemic medicines
What about NNLX, Nanologix,
I started watching them three years ago because they had a H2 bioreactor technology I liked, but they have recently been growing strong on the cheap quick test kits for biologic organisms.(Black Death & anthrax, and recent 24hr water test for EPA)
They are now branching out to include viruses,(H1N1?) but also hold patents for soil microbiology and bioremediation

Wood Energy: The New Renewable?

Biochar Soil Technology.....Husbandry of whole new orders of life

Biotic Carbon, the carbon transformed by life, should never be combusted, oxidized and destroyed. It deserves more respect, reverence even, and understanding to use it back to the soil where 2/3 of excess atmospheric carbon originally came from.

Biochar allows the soil food web to build much more recalcitrant organic carbon, ( living biomass & Glomalins) in addition to the carbon in the biochar.

Every 1 ton of Biomass yields 1/3 ton Charcoal for soil Sequestration (= to 1 Ton CO2e) + Bio-Gas & Bio-oil fuels = to 1MWh exported electricity, so is a totally virtuous, carbon negative energy cycle.
.
This is what I try to get across to Farmers, as to how I feel about the act of returning carbon to the soil. An act of penitence and thankfulness for the civilization we have created. Farmers are the Soil Sink Bankers, once carbon has a price, they will be laughing all the way to it.

Unlike CCS which only reduces emissions, biochar systems draw down CO2 every energy cycle, closing a circle back to support the soil food web. The "capture" collectors are up and running, the "storage" sink is in operation under our feet. Pyrolysis conversion plants are the only infrastructure we need to build out.

.Biochar viewed as soil Infrastructure; The old saw;
"Feed the Soil Not the Plants" becomes;
"Feed, Cloth and House the Soil, utilities included !".
Free Carbon Condominiums with carboxyl group fats in the pantry and hydroxyl alcohol in the mini bar.
Build it and the Wee-Beasties will come.
As one microbiologist said on the Biochar list; "Microbes like to sit down when they eat".
By setting this table we expand husbandry to whole new orders of life.

One aspect of Biochar systems are Cheap, clean biomass stoves that produce biochar and no respiratory disease. At scale, the health benefits are greater than ending Malaria.
unccd.int/publicinfo/p...

Endorsments:
Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, NASA's Dr. James Hansen
Charles Mann ("1491") in the Sept. National Geographic
Dr. James Lovelock; " Mankinds only Hope"
Tony Blair, Malcomb Turnbull, Richard Branson
Dozens of USDA-ARS Researchers


Internationally, the work of the IBI fostering the application by 13 countries for UN recognition of soil carbon as a sink with biochar as a clean development mechanism will open the door for programs across the globe.
biochar-international.....

Reports:
This new Congressional Research Service report (by analyst Kelsi Bracmort) is the best short summary I have seen so far - both technical and policy oriented.
assets.opencrs.com/rpt... .

Carbon to the Soil, the only ubiquitous and economic place to put it.

Carbon Credits: An Economic Scam

Dr. Hansen hates Cap & Trade also, his proposal Tax & Dividend is also endorsed by "The Economist" magazine ( you know,,,that liberal rag of a magazine :) )

74.125.95.132/search?q.../~jeh1/mailings/2008/2...

The Cap and Trade Delusion

Maybe this one will work, grrrrr;
74.125.95.132/search?q.../~jeh1/mailings/2008/2...

The Cap and Trade Delusion

I hope this link works;
www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/2009/WaysAndMea...

The Cap and Trade Delusion

What the CFC/Ozone success story was for raising the importance atmospheric chemistry, I feel biochar will be for carbon soil chemistry, Mycology and Microbiology. The historical climate work of William Ruddiman showing the agricultural origin of most excess CO2 begs this anthropogenic solution of soil carbon sequestration.

The same relationship I felt held for the NOX & SOX success story in raising the prospects for Cap & Trade and would mean,(with the EU lessons learned) for the cap & trade in carbon. I thought the relatively painless process for both industry and consumer in clearing the air and acid rain would offer the best carbon solution.

Dr. Hansen and the Economist magazine have turned me around with their Tax & Dividend proposal . The simplicity of calling carbon by it's name, at it's source, reduces the overall complexity, for the public most of all. This plan puts the $$ directly into the hands of consumers, they can then decide to save it by hitting the light switch or spend it by leaving the lights on.
A system to deal with CO2 equivalence of other GHGs will be complex enough by it's nature of not having a choke point source.
www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/2009/WaysAndMea...


Politically, C tax & dividend (I prefer the name Tax & Share) may be to late to the stage this year to have a legislative chance, but I am changing my arguments for it, and will spread theirs.

Here is a post concerning modification of where the dividend should go, by Folke Günther, a chemical engineer in Sweden:
Date: Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Subject: Re: [biochar-climatechange] Emailing: 20080604_TaxAndDividen...

I agree with Jim's proposal on a global carbon tax .
However, I don't think the tax should be paid back to everybody, indiscriminately.

Instead, the tax collected to restrain emissions should be paid to those who sequester carbon from the air.
By that the counteracting measure could be very profitable
(In Sweden, the emission tax is 1 SEK per kg CO2, or 3.77 SEK (about $ 0.5) per kg carbon.)

If the same amount would be paid to those who bury char in their own land , a normal farmer, making char of the haulm could get an extra pyment of about $ 1000 per hectare! (assuming a harvest of 8 tonnes per hectare)
Many would join in. Here we are in a potential situation similar to that depicted by the anti-biochaists.
The solution to that is to restrict the payment to those following certain rules of an 'ethical' charring.
I mentioned that in my paper 'Carbon sequestration for everybody<
www.holon.se/folke/car... >' about Mrs Ruth Less.

FG

Cap-and-Trade Plan: Climate Change Reactions

What the CFC/Ozone success story was for raising the importance atmospheric chemistry, I feel biochar will be for carbon soil chemistry, Mycology and Microbiology. The historical climate work of William Ruddiman showing the agricultural origin of most excess CO2 begs this anthropogenic solution of soil carbon sequestration.

The same relationship I felt held for the NOX & SOX success story in raising the prospects for Cap & Trade and would mean,(with the EU lessons learned) for the cap & trade in carbon. I thought the relatively painless process for both industry and consumer in clearing the air and acid rain would offer the best carbon solution.

Dr. James Hansen and "The Economist" magazine have turned me around with Tax & Dividend proposals.. The simplicity of calling carbon by it's name, taxed at it's source and this money sent to all of us. That reduces the overall complexity, for the public most of all. A system to deal with CO2 equivalence of other GHGs will be complex enough by it's nature of not having a choked point source.

Politically, C tax & dividend (I prefer the name Tax&Share) may be to late to the stage this year to have a legislative chance, but I am changing my arguments for it. Everyone will be able to chose weather to keep the dividend ( turn off a light switch) or spend it( to leave the lights on or fill a SUV gas tank)

Here is a post concerning modification of where the dividend should go, by Folke Günther, a chemical engineer in Sweden:
[e-mail]
Date: Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Subject: Re: [biochar-climatechange] Emailing: 20080604_TaxAndDividen...

I agree with Jim's proposal on a global carbon tax .
However, I don't think the tax should be paid back to everybody, indiscriminately.

Instead, the tax collected to restrain emissions should be paid to those who sequester carbon from the air.
By that the counteracting measure could be very profitable
(In Sweden, the emission tax is 1 SEK per kg CO2, or 3.77 SEK (about $ 0.5) per kg carbon.)

If the same amount would be paid to those who bury char in their own land , a normal farmer, making char of the haulm could get an extra pyment of about $ 1000 per hectare! (assuming a harvest of 8 tonnes per hectare)
Many would join in. Here we are in a potential situation similar to that depicted by the anti-biochaists.
The solution to that is to restrict the payment to those following certain rules of an 'etical' charring.
I mentioned that in my paper 'Carbon sequestration for everybody<www.holon.se/folke/car...;' about Mrs Ruth Less.

FG

Here's Why We Need a Tax on Oil Imports

the NOX & SOX success story raises the prospects for Cap & Trade and would mean,(with the EU lessons learned) for the cap & trade in carbon. I thought the relatively painless process for both industry and consumer in clearing the air and acid rain would offer the best carbon solution.

Dr. James Hansen has turned me around with his Tax & Dividend paper. The simplicity of calling carbon by it's name, at it's source, reduces the overall complexity, for the public most of all. A system to deal with CO2 equivalence of other GHGs will be complex enough by it's nature of not having a chock point source.

Putting the money directly into the wallets of all consumers will stimulate entrepreneurial alternative energy efforts, and for those who wish to continue filling the SUV, or not hitting the light switch, they can just waste their dividend check.
I , sitting in a super-insulated home, with solar hot water and an electric bike will be banking mine.

Politically, C tax & dividend (I prefer the name Tax&Share) may be to late to the stage this year to have a legislative chance, but I am changing my arguments for it, and will spread Dr. Hansen's.

Here is a post concerning modification of where the dividend should go, by Folke Günther, a chemical engineer in Sweden:
Date: Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Subject: Re: [biochar-climatechange] Emailing: 20080604_TaxAndDividen...

I agree with Jim's proposal on a global carbon tax .
However, I don't think the tax should be paid back to everybody, indiscriminately.

Instead, the tax collected to restrain emissions should be paid to those who sequester carbon from the air.
By that the counteracting measure could be very profitable
(In Sweden, the emission tax is 1 SEK per kg CO2, or 3.77 SEK (about $ 0.5) per kg carbon.)

If the same amount would be paid to those who bury char in their own land , a normal farmer, making char of the haulm could get an extra pyment of about $ 1000 per hectare! (assuming a harvest of 8 tonnes per hectare)
Many would join in. Here we are in a potential situation similar to that depicted by the anti-biochaists.
The solution to that is to restrict the payment to those following certain rules of an 'etical' charring.
I mentioned that in my paper 'Carbon sequestration for everybody< www.holon.se/folke/car...
>' about Mrs Ruth Less.

Whither Cap-and-Trade? An IM Exchange

Woprking Link;

www.holon.se/folke/car...

Whither Cap-and-Trade? An IM Exchange

Here is a post concerning modification of where the dividend should go, by Folke Günther, a chemical engineer in Sweden:

Date: Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Subject: Re: [biochar-climatechange] Emailing: 20080604_TaxAndDividen...

I agree with Jim's proposal on a global carbon tax .
However, I don't think the tax should be paid back to everybody, indiscriminately.

Instead, the tax collected to restrain emissions should be paid to those who sequester carbon from the air.
By that the counteracting measure could be very profitable
(In Sweden, the emission tax is 1 SEK per kg CO2, or 3.77 SEK (about $ 0.5) per kg carbon.)

If the same amount would be paid to those who bury biochar in their own land , a normal farmer, making char of the waste biomass could get an extra pyment of about $ 1000 per hectare! (assuming a harvest of 8 tonnes per hectare)
Many would join in. Here we are in a potential situation similar to that depicted by the anti-biochaists.
The solution to that is to restrict the payment to those following certain rules of an 'ethical' charring.
I mentioned that in my paper 'Carbon sequestration for everybody<www.holon.se/folke/car...;' about Mrs Ruth Less.

FG