Thomas R. Miles is the president of T.R. Miles, Technical Consultants, Portland, Oregon, a biomass energy consulting firm, which designs, develops, installs, and commissions systems for processing wood, agricultural, and urban residues to feed, fiber, and energy products. Facilities range from improved cookstoves to large biomass power plants. His experience with crop straws, pits, nuts and shells, animal bedding and manures led to an interest in biochar as a means of managing nutrients while increasing soil carbon. He has hosted online discussions on biomass energy and biochar since 1994. He is past chairman of the International Biochar Initiative and Executive Director of the US Biochar Initiative. (www.trmiles.com)