California Biomass Plant Becomes Carbon-Negative AI Hub

Artificial intelligence is getting a green makeover in Northern California, and it could change how we power the data centers behind our digital world.

NewYork GreenCloud just acquired the Buena Vista Biomass Power facility in Ione, California, with plans to transform it into something nobody's built before: a carbon-negative AI factory. Instead of adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, this facility will actually remove them while powering the high-performance computers that train artificial intelligence.

The secret lies in biomass-to-pyrolysis technology, which converts woody waste from forests, farms, and construction sites into clean baseload energy. Think of it as turning tree trimmings and sawdust into electricity while creating biochar, a stable form of carbon that stays locked away instead of entering the atmosphere.

The facility will more than double its power output from 18 megawatts to 41 megawatts. All that renewable energy will feed GPU clusters on site, the powerful computers that make modern AI possible, without drawing from the traditional power grid.

"This facility will let us deliver high-performance compute with a dramatically lower carbon footprint," said Joe Church, CEO of NewYork GreenCloud. The company is already scouting additional locations for similar conversions between 2026 and 2028.

BucSha Energy, the engineering partner behind the biomass technology, focuses exclusively on regional biomass sources. That means the fuel comes from nearby forests and farms rather than being shipped across long distances, keeping the entire operation local and sustainable.

The Ripple Effect

This project addresses two major challenges at once. AI computing requires massive amounts of electricity, and tech companies are racing to meet that demand without destroying the climate. Meanwhile, California's forests generate enormous amounts of waste material that often goes unused or gets burned in piles, releasing carbon dioxide.

By connecting these two problems, the Buena Vista project creates a solution that benefits both the tech industry and forest management. It provides a productive use for biomass waste while giving AI companies a path toward truly sustainable computing infrastructure.

The model could spread quickly if successful. Tech giants are under increasing pressure to power their operations with clean energy, and data center demand is exploding as AI becomes more widespread in business and daily life.

Forest communities could see new economic opportunities too, as their waste materials become valuable feedstock for energy production instead of a disposal problem.

A sustainable AI industry isn't just a pipe dream anymore—it's being built in Northern California right now.