New Woodchuck patnership rescues solar farm wood waste for biomass

Woodchuck, an AI-powered climate-tech startup, has announced a partnership with Barton Malow, a 101-year-old construction firm. Together, the companies are diverting all wood waste from the Hart Solar Farm project away from landfills and into clean energy production.
The collaboration not only prevents thousands of tonnes of wood waste from reaching landfill sites but also saves time and resources by streamlining waste logistics.
Diverted materials are processed and delivered to Hart Solar, a NorthStar Clean Energy project, where they are repurposed as biomass to generate renewable energy.
Waste management has long been a major challenge in renewable energy construction, with pallets, cable spools and miscellaneous wood supports typically sent to landfill.
By working with Woodchuck, Barton Malow ensures these materials serve a higher purpose in clean energy production.
“Partnering with Woodchuck gives our project teams a real opportunity to put waste diversion into practice on a large scale,” said Jill Katic, Senior Sustainability Director at Barton Malow. “Not only does this reduce our environmental impact, but it also provides quantifiable reporting for our greenhouse gas inventories and annual sustainability reports. That level of accountability allows us to deliver greater value to our clients and positions Barton Malow as a leader in sustainable construction.”
For Woodchuck, the partnership reinforces its mission to eliminate construction waste from landfill sites and create renewable energy streams.
“Our work with Barton Malow at the Hart Solar Farm demonstrates that waste can be an asset,” said Todd Thomas, CEO of Woodchuck. “By coordinating hauling, shredding and processing on-site, we make logistics easier for builders while ensuring every pallet and piece of wood debris is converted into clean energy rather than buried in landfill.”
NorthStar Clean Energy, which uses the repurposed biomass, describes the project as a clear example of how cross-industry collaboration can deliver measurable sustainability outcomes.
“Turning wood waste from a solar construction site into clean, renewable energy is exactly the kind of circular solution our energy future demands,” said Brian Hartmann, President of NorthStar Clean Energy. “Working with Barton Malow and Woodchuck shows how innovative partnerships can scale sustainable practices while delivering reliable energy to Michigan communities.”
The Hart Solar Farm project, spanning more than four square miles, has already diverted nearly 500 tonnes of wood waste, generating 38M BTU — enough energy to power 16 Detroit homes for a month, or equivalent to 824 tonnes of CO₂e, roughly the same as removing 180 cars from the road for a year.