The Opportunity
Agency Tribal Nations proposes to establish the Mendocino Tribal Graphene Battery Center (MTGBC) — a vertically integrated facility converting hemp grown on Mendocino tribal lands into graphene-grade carbon nanosheets and next-generation battery cells for EV and grid storage markets.
This is not speculative. ATN has already authorized hemp cultivation under the Geronimo Hemp Industrial Research and Development Act — tribal legislation providing licensing, GPS tracking, and regulatory framework for hemp and cannabis cultivation. We have reviewed an active commercial offtake agreement structure from Battery Movement (Las Vegas), an international public benefit corporation producing graphene and graphene oxide from hemp for their Battery Coin project, which guarantees up to 30% graphene yield from hemp dry weight.
Scientific research from Risø National Laboratory confirms hemp bast fiber contains 73–77% cellulose — the highest among common natural fibers and the key driver of graphene quality. Mendocino County's climate, sovereignty, and existing tribal legal framework position ATN to be the first tribally-owned graphene battery manufacturer in the United States.
Signed Feb 2025. Battery Movement (David Kam, Founder) purchases hemp biomass for graphene + graphene oxide production. Compensation: 20% discount on market value + 20% of profits from graphene yield. 10-year initial term.
ATN tribal legislation authorizing hemp cultivation, processing, licensing, and research. Covers Cannabis sativa L. from .3% THC to 20% THC. Establishes Health & Human Services dept. oversight, GPS coordinate registration, and fee collection framework.
Hemp bast fibers: 73–77% cellulose, 7–9% hemicellulose, 4–6% lignin. High cellulose + low lignin = ideal graphene precursor. Hydrothermal treatment verified for fiber defibration and graphene synthesis.
From Hemp Field to Graphene Cell
Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) cultivated on Mendocino tribal lands under the Geronimo Hemp R&D Act. GPS-registered grow sites, licensed processors, and department oversight already established under tribal law.
Bast fiber processed via hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) — heated in water at 180–250°C under pressure — then activated at 700–900°C. Risø data confirms hydrothermal treatment removes lignin and hemicellulose while retaining cellulose carbon framework for nanosheet formation.
Hemp graphene nanosheets used as high-performance anode material. Battery Movement's Battery Coin project demonstrates active commercial demand. On-site cell assembly produces EV pouch cells and grid-storage prismatic cells for domestic market.
Battery Movement Hemp Supplier Offtake Agreement
Battery Movement — an international public benefit corporation managing Battery Coin development — has an active offtake agreement structure for hemp biomass. The agreement specifies hemp biomass must be "suitable for the production of graphene and graphene oxide," free from pesticides and contaminants. ATN's Mendocino cultivation program is precisely positioned to be a premium supplier.
+ auto-renew
Why This Land. Why This Nation.
Mendocino County: 65–70°F growing season, 40–60" annual rainfall, deep loamy coastal soils. Risø research confirms high-cellulose hemp requires well-drained soil with adequate nitrogen — exactly Mendocino's profile. Already producing cannabis commercially on this land.
The Geronimo Hemp R&D Act is live tribal law. It authorizes cultivation, processing, handling, and licensing. GPS coordinate registration, grower registration, department oversight — the regulatory infrastructure is built. No need to start from scratch.
Facility powered by ACT Hydrogen (California) — clean, dispatchable hydrogen energy purpose-built for industrial process loads. Hydrothermal carbonization and KOH activation require consistent high-temperature energy; hydrogen outperforms solar for process reliability. Direct cost advantage over coal-grid competitors.
Battery Movement already has the commercial pipeline, processing know-how, and Battery Coin market. ATN doesn't need to build the demand side from scratch — we become their premium tribal-land supplier and co-manufacturer, then evolve to independent production.
150 miles north of Bay Area. Port of Oakland within 3-hour supply radius. Highway 101 connects to Pacific Northwest. Strategic between Tesla Fremont (EV manufacturing) and Pacific Rim export routes. Zero graphene battery manufacturing currently in Northern California.
Tribal applicants automatically qualify for Justice40 Initiative priority scoring — Biden/Harris clean energy commitment that 40% of climate investment benefits disadvantaged communities. This is a significant advantage in IIJA §40207 competitive scoring vs. commercial applicants.
Mendocino Tribal Graphene Battery Center (MTGBC)
- →Hemp retting and bast fiber separation
- →Fiber cleaning, chopping to fine powder (Spec Option 1)
- →Post-CBD/THC extraction waste stream processing (Spec Option 2)
- →Quality control: cellulose%, pesticide-free, moisture testing
- →Cold storage for seasonal harvest inventory
- →Hydrothermal carbonization reactors (180–250°C)
- →High-temp activation furnaces (700–900°C, KOH process)
- →Carbon nanosheet characterization lab
- →BET surface area & electrochemical testing
- →Graphene oxide production line (Battery Movement supply)
- →Electrode slurry mixing and coating lines
- →Dry room cell assembly (EV pouch + grid prismatic)
- →Electrolyte filling, sealing, formation cycling
- →Battery Coin cell production (Battery Movement supply)
- →Pack assembly, testing, shipping
- →Battery chemistry research lab
- →Hemp genomics and cultivar optimization (high-cellulose strains)
- →Tribal STEM workforce training center
- →ATN administrative offices and tribal council chamber
- →Visitor center and education exhibit
Implementation Roadmap
File under 2018 Farm Bill + Geronimo Act framework. 100 acres planted Year 1.
Execute tribal-version offtake agreement. Begin hemp biomass supply to Battery Movement for graphene production revenue in Year 1.
HTC reactor + activation furnace. Validate 30% yield on Mendocino hemp. Lab-certify for Battery Coin supply chain.
Hemp farming, pilot plant, R&D, admin
Full cultivation build-out. Harvest: 750–1,000 T bast fiber/yr. Graphene output: 225–300 T/yr at 30% yield.
Full-scale HTC + activation. Continuous production. B2B graphene sales + Battery Movement supply contract active.
Anode electrode coating lines. First battery cells produced. Revenue generation from both graphene sales and electrodes.
Manufacturing operators, chemists, engineers
Dry room assembly. EV pouch + grid prismatic cells. 500 MWh/yr capacity. ATN-branded battery product line.
Clean dispatchable hydrogen energy for HTC and KOH activation. ACT Hydrogen is a California hydrogen supplier; partnership agreement executed Phase 1.
BioWatch (DHS-26-CWMD-091-00001) and federal procurement pipeline for tribal sovereign battery supply.
Full facility. Tribal employment preference.
$160M+ Available Federal Funding
Tribal applicants stack programs unavailable to commercial competitors. Justice40 priority scoring applies across all climate-related grants.
| Program | Phase | Apply |
|---|---|---|
|
IIJA §40207 Battery Materials Processing & Manufacturing
DE-FOA-0003585 · CFDA 81.253
PRIMARY GRANT — core facility funding
|
2–3 | Apply → |
|
USDA Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance
USDA-FS-WPIA-2026 · CFDA 10.725
Hemp/biomass processing facility eligible
|
1 | Apply → |
|
BIA — Tribal Energy Development (638 Contract)
CFDA 15.033
Hydrogen power infrastructure + energy systems
|
1–2 | Apply → |
|
EPA — Tribal Environmental Infrastructure (IIJA)
CFDA 66.126
Water systems for hemp irrigation + HTC processing
|
1 | Apply → |
|
ACT Hydrogen — Energy Partnership (CA)
CFDA 10.868
Hydrogen PPA — clean energy for HTC and activation processes
|
1–2 | Apply → |
|
California Energy Commission — Manufacturing Grants
CEC Clean Energy Manufacturing
In-state battery manufacturing co-investment
|
2–3 | Research → |
Generational Wealth for Mendocino Tribal Nation
Annual Revenue Projections
Community Impact
Full benefits. Tribal employment preference for all positions. Generational career paths in chemistry, engineering, and manufacturing.
$88M/yr revenue reinvested in housing, education, healthcare, language preservation. End dependence on federal program funding.
First tribally-owned graphene battery manufacturer in the US. Replicable model for 574 sovereign tribal nations nationwide.
Hemp sequesters CO₂ during growth. Hydrogen-powered facility (ACT Hydrogen, CA). Net-negative carbon battery — premium ESG market position and federal clean energy procurement advantage.
Move Now
USDA WPIA closes April 22, 2026. IIJA §40207 closes April 24, 2026. Both deadlines are imminent.
- → File USDA WPIA Letter of Intent
- → Verify SAM.gov registration active
- → Contact Battery Movement re: tribal partnership upgrade
- → Contact DOE NETL program officer
- → IIJA §40207 concept paper submitted
- → Tribal council resolution authorizing MTGBC
- → DOE national lab partnership inquiry (Argonne/NREL)
- → Mendocino College STEM MOU drafted
- → Full IIJA §40207 application submitted
- → USDA industrial hemp license filed
- → BIA 638 energy contract negotiation
- → Site plan + environmental review initiated