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AirBuild pitches algae pods and biochar processing to San Juan County as water, soil remediation and workforce opportunity
Summary
AirBuild representatives described algae‑based water treatment “pods,” pyrolysis processing to make biochar, and a funding plan that blends company investment with grants; county staff and extension specialists discussed pilot sites, deferment studies for sewer lagoons and technician training but no formal commitment was made.
San Juan County officials heard a proposal on Sept. 2, 2025, from AirBuild — a company that develops algae‑based water treatment systems and processes algae into biochar — intended to address local water quality, soil remediation and workforce needs.
John, an AirBuild representative, told the commission the company uses microalgae to remove nutrients and contaminants from water and then converts the algal biomass by pyrolysis into biochar, a nutrient‑rich soil amendment. “We do research on algae, and we started this company to use algae to clean water and clean the air through what's called carbon capture,” he said. The company also sells carbon offsets; John said AirBuild “make[s] money off of selling carbon offsets to Microsoft and Taylor Swift and people like that.”
AirBuild described a modular “pod” system that is solar powered,…
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