President Barack Obama has officially kicked off the second term of his presidency. During his inaugural address on Jan. 21, Obama touched on several topics, including the economic recovery and sustainable energy.
The Defense Logistics Agency-Energy has announced it will hold a pre-proposal conference on Jan. 24 to answer questions with regard to a biomass power solicitation issued in December to supply power to New York-based Fort Drum.
The International Renewable Energy Agency has published a report that provides a comprehensive analysis of the costs and performance of various renewable power technologies that are currently available. It addresses several biomass technologies.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Office of Energy Projects has released its latest Energy Infrastructure Update, which includes data through Dec. 2012. The update includes statistics on a variety of energy types, including biomass.
EIA: Large mergers drive ownership change of power plants
By U.S. Energy Information Administration
January 16, 2013
Electric power companies add physical capacity to their fleets in two primary ways: building new generators or buying existing generators. Natural gas and renewable units comprise a majority of the generating capacity bought or sold since 2005.
Viaspace Giant King Grass growing in Hawaii
By Viaspace Inc.
January 15, 2013
While Giant King Grass was previously released from quarantine by the USDA for distribution in the U.S., Hawaii has additional plant import rules, and the crop is being grown in a facility under the purview of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.
Wood-to-energy will significantly benefit from the low-cost natural gas, according to a new white paper released from FutureMetrics Inc., including European wood pellet export operations and the domestic wood pellet boiler sector.
"As we look ahead to a promising future in our small towns and rural communities, I am pleased to continue working alongside President Obama to grow more opportunity in rural America," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
BBI International announced this week the preliminary agenda for the 6th annual International Biomass Conference & Expo. The 2013 agenda, featuring four comprehensive tracks, is tightly focused on leading edge developments in the biomass industry.
In a four-year University of Illinois study that compared miscanthus, switchgrass, and mixed prairie species to typical corn-corn-soybean rotations, each of the perennial crops were highly efficient at reducing nitrogen losses.
A 24 MW biomass power plant in Maine is up for sale. According to information issued by Niagara Worldwide, it is working in conjunction with Sherman Development LLC to liquidate a former Boralax Biomass Power Plant.
Seven recipients have each been awarded GBP292,000 ($469,000) by the United Kingdom Department of Energy & Climate Change as part of a program focused on funding projects that utilize wetland biomass for energy.
LC Energy acquires Harvest Wood Fuels bulk pellet business
By LC Energy
January 10, 2013
LC Energy, one of England's leading specialists in sustainable wood fuel supply, has announced its acquisition of Harvest Wood Fuels bulk pellet business, a top supplier of high grade wood pellets based in Tilford, Surrey, England.
The U.S. is expected to the main supplier of wood pellets in the Benelux market in northwestern Europe this year. The U.S. exported an estimated 1.25 million metric tons of wood pellets worth $225 million to the region in 2012.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the January issue of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, which is the first to include forecasts for 2014. The report includes forecasts for biomass power production and for home heating with wood.
A notice posted to the China Internet Information Center states that the country has increased the number of renewable power projects that qualify for state subsidies under a tariff surcharge program, including several biomass projects.
Germany helps Ukraine develop biofuel projects
By Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine
January 04, 2013
Germany intends to assist Ukraine in establishing its own biofuel production in 2013. The statement was made by the representative of the German Federal Ministry of Environment Jurgen Keinhorst at the joint Ukraine-Germany council.
Pellet Fuels Institute earns fiscal cliff win
January 04, 2013
The Pellet Fuels Institute held a December 2012 fly-in trip to Washington, D.C., to fight for a biomass heating tax incentive, and those efforts have paid off. Included in the fiscal cliff tax deal was the stove tax credit.
The Biomass Crop Assistance Program may have been extended through 2013 with the passing of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, but the program's usefulness in the coming year is still uncertain.
Legislators have passed the "fiscal cliff bill," which extended the farm bill through Sept. 30 and several biofuel-related tax incentives through 2013. However, all mandatory funding for energy title programs was eliminated at the last moment.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced $250 million in funding for biomass-based electricity generation projects and other renewable energy installations as part of the state's renewable portfolio standard (RPS).
Georgia-based torrefied pellet developer, Vega Biofuels, has announced plans to ship samples to European power companies for testing by the end of January. The company first announced its plans to ship torrefied pellets to Europe in March.
A series of articles published as a special issue on biofuels by the Forest Products Journal highlights the relative impact of 15 different uses of biofuels on reducing CO2 emissions and increasing energy independence.
Advertisement
Advertisement
