Microsoft buys 3.6M metric tons of carbon removal from bioenergy plant | TechCrunch

"Microsoft announced Thursday it would buy 3.6 million carbon removal credits from a biofuels plant in Louisiana owned by C2X. The plant, which is slated to begin operating in 2029, will process forestry waste into methanol, which can be used to power ships and planes and as a raw material for chemical manufacturing. Altogether, the facility will produce more than 500,000 metric tons of methanol."

"About 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide will be captured and stored, likely underground. The purchase is one of many that Microsoft has made in the last year or so, including a 4.9 million metric ton deal with Vaulted Deep, a 3.7 million metric ton agreement with CO280, and a 7 million metric ton buy from Chestnut Carbon. Microsoft's rapid expansion of its data center footprint has imperiled its 2030 pledge to remove more carbon from the atmosphere than it generates."

Microsoft will buy 3.6 million carbon removal credits from a C2X-owned biofuels plant in Louisiana. The plant, slated to begin operations in 2029, will convert forestry waste into methanol usable for ships, planes, and chemical feedstocks. The facility will produce more than 500,000 metric tons of methanol while capturing and storing about 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, likely underground. The purchase follows other large carbon removal agreements by Microsoft, including deals for 4.9 million, 3.7 million, and 7 million metric tons. Rapid data center expansion has strained Microsoft's 2030 net-negative pledge, and carbon removal credits will help offset future fossil fuel emissions alongside renewable and nuclear power purchases.

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