A New Model Carboniferous Swamp

But what if we reversed the process, by burying biomass as nature has for millions of years to put more and more stored carbon dioxide back into the ground? The Mid Coast Carbon Repository is a proposal for geologic storage of CO2, by means of direct burial of wood biomass. Under this proposal, 180,000 cubic yards of biomass would be placed in the bottom of the Engine Quarry, trapping 64,421 tons of CO2. The biomass would be purchased from sustainably harvested forest products or from the waste stream of purchasers of forest products, such as paper mills, sawmills, and other industries like furniture manufacturing. This wood-based biomass would be placed at the bottom of the quarry in layers, compacted, and then capped. Atop the cap, we would build an ecological park consisting of man-made islands and open water. Rainwater would fill the quarry, submersing the biomass and filling the waterways, and the park would be stocked with fish and amphibians along with indigenous plantings, creating a refuge for wildlife and a recreational and learning environment for people to visit.

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