Pictured is the Cabin Creek site. Photo courtesy of Placer County

TAHOE CITY, CA (MPG) - Placer County will host a virtual town hall meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, April 13, to provide information and gather community input on the proposed Cabin Creek Biomass Facility project.

The meeting will focus on a proposed small-scale, multi-phased biochar production facility at the Cabin Creek site on county-owned land south of the Town of Truckee in eastern Placer County. Community members are encouraged to attend, learn more about the project and share feedback.

 he first phase of the project is designed to use a variety of sustainably sourced biomass materials, including non-merchantable biomass, to create a high-quality biochar through non-combustion thermal conversion technology. The second phase focuses on expanding biochar production and capturing byproducts for electricity and heat production. By creating a reliable market for woody biomass, the project aims to reduce the costs of critical forest management across the North Lake Tahoe region, an effort that is vital to helping reduce the risk and severity of high-intensity wildfires.

If approved, the facility would operate year-round to generate biochar for distribution in local markets: reducing wildfire fuel loads by creating lower-cost disposal options; generating renewable products through carbon-negative processes; improving air quality by reducing smoke from open burning; and supporting local jobs and rural economies through forest management and facility operations.

County officials will present an overview of the project and answer questions during the town hall. Public feedback gathered during the meeting will help inform the environmental document being prepared for the conditional use permit.

Residents can join the virtual meeting by using the following link: https://placer-ca-gov.zoom.us/j/95770074043.