KINGSTON – The City of Kingston is partnering with 4 Corners Carbon Coalition, Sustainable Hudson Valley, and NY Carbon through the Hudson Valley Biochar Pioneers initiative to use locally-produced biochar for soil enhancement and carbon storage in projects throughout the City.
Biochar is a carbon-rich material that can be made from wood and other natural feedstocks. When added to soil, biochar helps retain air, water, and nutrients, and use in urban forestry and stormwater projects can improve growing conditions for trees and plants, increase the soil’s capacity to hold water, and support long-term carbon storage.
“We are pleased to partner with these organizations to bring innovative solutions to Kingston. Biochar will help improve the health of our street trees, strengthen our green infrastructure, and better manage stormwater,” said Mayor Steven Noble.
Kingston Urban Forester Brent Knepper said, “We’re happy to receive this award and incorporate biochar into some of our street tree plantings and rain gardens. Doing so will allow us to make better growing conditions for trees and greater stormwater management, as well as to document the value of these approaches to inform other cities.”
Sustainable Hudson Valley’s Executive Director, Melissa Everett, said, “It is always satisfying to work with local communities to demonstrate ways of reducing our climate impact that also have local benefits, like improving the soil.”
The initiative is supported by grant funding and philanthropic contributions that will be used to purchase biochar for Kingston’s public spaces. The city’s first projects will include a new rain garden near the Old Dutch Church. As part of the City’s 2026 sidewalk ramp project, a new green space will be created between the church grounds and the new sidewalk bump out at Wall and Main Streets. Biochar will be added to the rain garden soil to help manage stormwater runoff.
The City will also partner with the State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson Valley ReLeaf Committee to host a demonstration at TR Gallo Park on Friday, November 13, 2026. The demonstration will show how soil can be excavated around a mature oak tree without damaging its roots and how biochar can be added to improve soil conditions and support tree health. The event will be limited to 30 attendees, please register here:
Additional projects planned for the coming months include tree planter improvements on Broadway.
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