A significant advancement in clean energy might soon arrive in Grand Rapids with a $2 million facility set to change how Michigan deals with wood waste.
Woodchuck, a company dedicated to addressing climate issues, has opened the state’s inaugural facility for biomass processing. This new center integrates fully electric wood-processing techniques with artificial intelligence technology, converting waste wood into a sustainable energy source.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer, present at the grand opening, stated that this initiative embodies a novel approach to sustainability.
“Woodchuck will transform what we typically regarded as waste destined for landfills—wood debris from building, demolitions, or storms—and convert it into a sustainable and clean energy resource,” she stated.
The facility uses AI at every stage of the process. It begins by helping identify and separate clean wood from mixed waste streams. From there, the technology continues to monitor and refine the processing of biomass fuel to ensure maximum energy quality and minimal environmental impact.
“We’re employing AI technology to ensure precise separation of wood from various waste streams, thus obtaining cleaner refuse. Throughout the process, we keep utilizing this AI system to enhance the quality of the biomass, enabling us to generate energy more efficiently and boosting our commitment to sustainability,” said Todd Thomas, founder and CEO of Woodchuck.
In addition to producing renewable energy, the facility is making a local economic impact. Fourteen new jobs have been created, and Woodchuck has established a unique partnership with the City of Grand Rapids.
We enjoy an excellent collaboration with the city,” Thomas stated. “They allow us to work here without charges, and as part of our agreement, whenever the city encounters fallen trees, they provide those trees to us at no cost so that we can handle their processing for free.
By rerouting wood waste from landfills and converting it into energy, the biomass plant assists in powering residences and commercial establishments while promoting a circular economic framework.
It’s truly exhilarating,” Whitmer stated. “This is just another outcome of focusing on our climate initiatives.
Although Woodchuck remains a startup, it’s already making significant contributions to Michigan’s larger initiative towards clean energy.
During the Whitmer-Gilchrist administration, the state has attracted numerous clean energy investments and keeps unveiling new energy-related job opportunities.
