HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.21.26 Board Correspondence - FW_ FORESTRY NEWS_ Learn All About Testing Biochar in Concrete at this Innovative Demonstration.ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening attachments,
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From:Clerk of the Board
To:Clerk of the Board; Connelly, Bill; Cook, Holly; Cook, Robin; Durfee, Peter; Jessee, Meegan; Kimmelshue, Tod; Kitts,
Melissa; Krater, Sharleen; Lee, Lewis; Little, Melissa; Pickett, Andy; Ritter, Tami; Stephens, Brad J.; Sweeney, Kathleen;
Teeter, Doug; Zepeda, Elizabeth
Cc:Sjolund, Garrett; Nuzum, Danielle
Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: FORESTRY NEWS: Learn All About Testing Biochar in Concrete at this Innovative
Demonstration
Date:Tuesday, April 21, 2026 11:39:54 AM
Attachments:image001.png
Please see Board Correspondence -
Lewis LeeAdministrative Technician - ConfidentialButte County Administration25 County Center Drive, Suite 200 • Oroville, CA 95965T: 530.552.3326www.buttecounty.ca.gov | lelee@buttecounty.ca.gov
From: California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection <PublicComments@bof.ca.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2026 11:25 AM
To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.ca.gov>
Subject: FORESTRY NEWS: Learn All About Testing Biochar in Concrete at this Innovative Demonstration
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NEWS ADVISORY
Testing Biochar in Concrete Demonstration: Another Tool in the
Wildfire Resilience and Climate Toolbox
Biochar made from forest restoration projects sequesters carbon and
can be used to offset carbon production in the making of concrete
while also supporting wildfire prevention efforts.
DAVIS—The UC Pavement Research Center (UCPRC) will be pouring and
testing concrete slabs made from biochar produced from sustainably
sourced forest biomass at their Wood Ash/Biochar Concrete Test Slabs
Demonstration Day on April 23, 2026.
The goal of this demonstration is to assess replacing some of the cement
ingredients in concrete with biochar sourced from forest restoration
efforts, which could help create a new market for biochar and wood
ash, aiding sustainable forest management in the state.
Replacing just 5 - 10% of the cement in California’s ready-mix market
with biochar would consume 425,000 – 850,000 tons of biochar annually
and reduce the carbon emissions produced in the making of ready-mix
concrete by 0.39 – 0.77 million tons. Biochar is also a tool for long-term
CO2 storage, further adding to its use in concrete.
“We have been looking forward to this demonstration and appreciate
the opportunity to help UC Davis researchers find practical solutions to
our climate issues. As the state works to increase the pace and scale of
forest restoration to improve forest health and decrease wildfire risks, we
face increasing challenges with how to best use all of the forest waste
from those projects. Biochar is one solution that not only sequesters
carbon, but, in this case, can also help to reduce carbon produced in
the making of cement, acting as a force multiplier for helping the state
reach its climate goals,” said Katie Harrell, program manager for the
Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Joint Institute for Wood Products
Innovation.
WHAT: Demonstration: Wood Ash/Biochar Concrete Test Slabs
WHEN: Thursday, April 23, 2026, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
WHERE: UCPRC Facility, 3327 Apiary Dr., Davis, CA 95616
PARKING: Go to the UCPRC address above. Follow signs to the parking
lot, which is south of UCPRC. Follow the signs to walk to UCPRC (few
minute walk). NOTE: For the parking pass, go to
https://ucdavis.aimsparking.com, ‘Special Event Parking.’ Click
‘Group/Departmental Events’ and select ‘CCPC – UCPRC Open
House.’ Enter Voucher Code: ‘CCPC26’ and ‘Apply Voucher.’ Select
the ‘Reduced Rate Event Permit – Hopkins Lot’ for $3.25, add the vehicle
it will be assigned to, and click to agree to the Terms of Service. Check
out when ready. Watch for a confirmation email, which will be sent
within a few minutes of completing the transaction. There is no need to
display anything in the vehicle. This permit is valid only in unrestricted L
zone spaces at the Hopkins Lot off Apiary Drive.
The United States consumes 85 – 95 million tons of cement annually.
California is second only to Texas in cement production, making 10–12
million tons a year. Most of the cement in CA is used in ready-mix
concrete applications.
Concrete truck delivery and slab placement are scheduled for
approximately 7:00 and 9:30 am (times are tentative and dependent on
the concrete plant schedule). Feel free to arrive around 7:00 am to
observe a truck delivery and slab placement and stay until after the
second truck delivery, currently scheduled around 9:30 am.
This demonstration is part of a project funded in part by the Joint Institute
for Wood Products Innovation, Caltrans, and industry partners. It is being
held in conjunction with the California Concrete Pavement Conference
demonstration. Visitors are welcome to join at any time during the event,
where various testing and concrete-related demonstration stations will
showcase concrete tests and equipment.
For more information about the demonstration, contact Somayeh
Nassiri, UC Davis Associate Professor at nassiri@ucdavis.edu or (530) 268-
5294. For more information on the Board and the Joint Institute, contact
Katie Harrell at (916) 698-1035 or katie.harrell@bof.ca.gov.
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