U.S. EPA Awards 14.7 Million to the Tule River Tribe for Biochar Project

February 18, 2026 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a $14.7 million grant to a biochar project that will enable the Tule River Tribe of California to tap into carbon credit revenue. Under the project, the Tule River Economic Development Corp. (TREDC) will utilize the EPA grant to construct a biochar production plant in California’s Central Valley that will also have the capacity to generate renewable electricity. According to TREDC estimates, the plant will be able to process up to 31,500 tons of woody residue annually, producing approximately 4,500 tons of biochar and roughly 4,000 megawatt-hours of renewable power each year. Its operations are also projected to be able to remove up to 10,600 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually and provide jobs for Tribal citizens.