University officials originally wrote CURBI, the Cornell University Renewable Bioenergy Initiative, in the late 2000s. CURBI outlined how biofuels could be used to help Cornell reach its climate action plan goals. CURBI was set aside by the University due to a lack of funding for capital expenses and a project champion. In the original plan, it was initially estimated that the construction of the CURBI system would cost $9.3 million and that the system would incur yearly costs of $500,000. Operating costs were neutralized as the system was projected to generate around $1 million in electricity and thermal energy, as well as $1.26 million worth of biochar. However, the University was reluctant to invest the capital to start the project due to additional safety costs and the start of the 2008 recession. CURBI was put on the back burner by the university and has not been revisited on a large scale.

ESW Biofuels spearheaded an effort to revive CURBI and help Cornell achieve its carbon neutrality goals. They have worked with professors, conducted feasibility studies, and analyzed waste streams to convince the stakeholders that CURBI and renewable energy is an investment worth making.

While natural gas (Cornell's main energy source) is cheap, it will be difficult to reignite passion for CURBI on a university level. Potential motivations for Cornell would include an acceleration of its Climate Action Plan, a carbon tax, and better definition of some of the technology CURBI intends to use.