At its meeting last week, the Holbrook City Council unanimously approved leasing city property to Carbon Utility, a clean-tech company launching its first U.S. pilot facility in Holbrook.
Jay Foster, CEO of Carbon Utility, explained that the company’s innovative modular system captures carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the air and hydrogen from water, converting them into renewable fuels like methanol, synthetic diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel, along with advanced materials such as carbon fiber.
“Our system captures CO2 and hydrogen from air and water,” Foster said. “What’s unique about our process is we produce real tangible products that can be used commercially.”
The pilot facility will initially produce about four gallons of fuel daily but is designed for significant scaling. Foster detailed plans to expand production tenfold, the system is built on modular and transportable units, which use minimal resources, approximately 100 gallons of water per day, according to Foster.
“These systems can be stacked vertically, maintaining a small footprint,” Foster said. “We aim to scale our system quickly.”
Safety measures were also discussed, Foster assured the council, “The risk of hydrogen is minimal as it’s converted almost immediately.” Foster also spoke about the safety protocols for handling of hydrogen during the creation process.
Carbon Utility intends to hire locally, seeking electricians, plumbers and mechanical engineers, and offering internship opportunities through Northland Pioneer College. Initially, three to five jobs will be created. Foster emphasized the significance of Holbrook, noting, “This will be our first location in Arizona and the United States.” They launched this idea in the United Kingdom and currently have offices in Tucson.
Also, during the meeting Librarian Emily Whitehorn provided a comprehensive library update, reporting nearly 29,000 visits this year and over 26,000 circulated items. The library hosted 310 programs attended by roughly 3,000 people, offering regular events like preschool story times, senior strength training, chair yoga, Lego League, and a Pokémon Trading Club.
Whitehorn highlighted new initiatives such as financial literacy programs for children and a curiosity collection featuring non-traditional lending items, including science kits and telescopes. Summer reading programs kicked off strongly, attracting around 200 participants.
The council approved an intent to review and potentially raise city fees, scheduling detailed discussions for July 30. Additionally, council members unanimously renewed their annual $10,000 commitment to the Northeastern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy, providing extensive training opportunities for city law enforcement.
The council concluded the open session and moved into an executive session after a brief recess. Following the executive session the council voted to approve a settlement in the Patel case as well as tabled action on the purchasing of property.
