The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has denied all permit applications submitted by Saratoga BiocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More Solutions (SBS) for their proposed facility in Moreau, New York. These include permits for air emissions, solid waste management, and a case-specific Beneficial Use Determination.

The decision follows years of public controversy, including town meetings, protests, and legal challenges. SBS had proposed a facility to process biosolids into biochar, a carbon-based fertilizer, using novel technology they claim can remediate and destroy PFAS compounds. However, the NYSDEC stated that the applications did not meet the required standards due to insufficient evidence of the technology’s effectiveness and safety at an industrial scale.

The agency expressed concern that the proposed plant, intended to process up to 15% of New York’s biosolids, was based on unproven methods tested only in small-scale trials. While acknowledging the potential of the technology, the NYSDEC highlighted unresolved questions about its environmental and public health impacts.

SBS now has 30 days to appeal the decision, which could mark the next chapter in an already contentious process. For now, the permit denials halt the development of the proposed facility, reflecting ongoing uncertainty over the feasibility of scaling up SBS’s technology safely and effectively.

LEARN MORE: All NYSDEC permit applications for Saratoga Biochar Solutions have been denied