A carbon removal startup that uses corn to clean the air is ramping up its Colorado operations.
Why it matters: Carbon dioxide, a potent planet-warming gas, reached the highest level in human history last year. Scientists say pulling CO2 from the atmosphere will be key to avoiding a climate catastrophe.
Driving the news: Charm Industrial has announced plans to at least double its 22-person Colorado workforce by the end of 2024.
- The Bay Area-based company welcomed Gov. Jared Polis last week to its 30,000-square-foot facility in Fort Lupton, northeast of Denver, which opened late last year.
How it works: Charm uses extremely high temperatures to heat — without oxygen — corn stalks and other residue left over from farming and forest management, breaking them into a tar-like liquid called “bio-oil.”