Net Zero Black Rock City Initiative

Transitioning Black Rock City Off of Fossil Fuels (OFF)

Imagine a city of 80,000 people leaving no trace of waste or emissions. This is the challenge at the heart of the Net Zero BRC initiative: Create a regenerative, carbon-neutral temporary community that not only meets our environmental goals but inspires others to rethink what’s possible 365 days a year.

Part of Burning Man Project’s 2030 Environmental Sustainability Roadmap, the Net Zero BRC goal is to achieve carbon neutrality and foster a culture of collaboration and innovation. 

As a donor-supported initiative, we aim to not only address the environmental impact of Black Rock City, but to also create a blueprint for large-scale temporary communities, energy use, waste management, and community collaboration far beyond Northern Nevada. 

Contribute to Net Zero BRC Efforts

Focus Areas of Net Zero BRC Impact

  1. Lead by Example: Transition Burning Man Project event operations in Black Rock City (BRC) off of fossil fuels and ecologically handle our waste; 
  2. Participant Support: Support the participant community in BRC in scaling innovative solutions and collaborations;
  3. Resource Recovery and Reuse: Recover resources and leveraging infrastructure from BRC through our year-round operations at Fly Ranch and on our Northern Nevada properties; 
  4. Cultural Activation: Support decarbonization and regenerative practices through our Regionals network and official Burning Man events; and
  5. Research and Develop Innovative Solutions : Establish partnerships to innovate, test, and scale emerging technologies and regenerative solutions.

Our Progress Toward 2030

Burning Man Project has made enormous strides since 2022 transitioning Black Rock City operations off of fossil fuels: 

  • In 2024, we facilitated the largest temporary deployment of energy storage in the world, significantly reducing generator run-time and diesel fuel consumption. 
  • We are replacing petroleum diesel with R99 renewable diesel and testing renewable propane as cleaner alternatives. 
  • Our solar initiatives are strengthening grid resilience, reducing reliance on diesel, and supporting art installations with renewable power. 
  • We’ve recovered and composted over 250 cubic yards of food waste and utilized the compost for local land projects. 
  • We are working hand in hand with our event production partners and participants to scale regenerative practices within Black Rock City and bring those learnings out into the world.

Learn more about this work and our successes below:

The future is ours. Join us in building a better tomorrow! 

Collaborate to Achieve Net Zero

Black Rock City is a sandbox for innovation. Collaborations with value-aligned organizations, vendors, and innovators who share our vision of an environmentally sustainable future are encouraged!

  • If you are a camp interested in providing a service that supports the goals of our sustainability roadmap, submit the Civic Support Camp interest form.
  • If you are bringing your own sustainability project to Black Rock City and would like to explore how Burning Man Project may be able to support, let us know by filling out the BRC Sustainability Contributors form.

The Net Zero BRC initiative is funded through the generosity of impact-driven donors seeking to further a vision of a fossil-free future, with a dollar-for-dollar matching opportunity through the end of 2025.