Climate tech firm Woodchuck has opened a new biomass processing facility which will utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to sort and process feedstock for conversion to energy generation.
The project in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is designed to divert tons of wood waste from landfills annually, according to Woodchuck. The biomass plant will combine advanced machine learning with localized waste diversion to turn construction and demolition wood waste into high-quality biomass for energy producers.
Among the companies partnering with Woodchuck to convert biomass into energy are NorthStar Clean Energy, Alloy Partners, Beckett Industries and the Right Place.
“Woodchuck’s new facility in Grand Rapids will create good-paying, high-skill jobs and build on Michigan’s leadership in AI, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who attended the Woodchuck opening ceremony, said in a statement. “By turning waste into a productive resource, Woodchuck is helping us protect our precious natural resources and build a more cutting-edge, sustainable economy.”
Additionally, Woodchuck has partnered with several counties to process fallen trees and wood debris, thereby turning landfill waste or burning piles into clean biomass energy. The effort is helping communities recover faster, while reinforcing the value of localized circular economy solutions during climate-driven weather events.
At full capacity, the facility will divert tens of thousands of tons of wood waste from landfills each year—converting it into renewable biomass to power local industries, support utility decarbonization, and reduce methane emissions from decomposing wood.
By using AI to sort, identify, and process usable materials, Woodchuck drastically increases efficiency and transparency in a sector long plagued by fragmentation and contamination challenges.
