The Surface Transportation Board has announced a meeting of the Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee will be held on April 22 virtually via zoom. The meeting is open to the public, but advanced registration is required.
The DOE on April 8 announced it will award $61.4 million to support the development and demonstration of bioenergy projects, including those focused on marine and aviation fuels, cellulosic sugars, separations technologies, wood heating, and RNG.
Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. announced on April 6 that the company has obtained a final order from the Supreme Court of British Colombia approving its acquisition by U.K.-based Drax Group. The transaction is expected to close April 13.
The U.S. exported 556,801.7 metric tons of wood pellets in February, up from 546,435.2 metric tons during the same month of last year, but down from 599,624.2 metric tons in January, according to data released by the USDA on April 7.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration released its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook on April 6, predicting that 21 percent of U.S. electricity generation will come from renewable sources this year, increasing to 22 percent next year.
Japan-based Renova Inc. announced on April 1 construction is underway on its Omaezakikou Biomass Power Plant, a 75-megawatt (MW) facility under development approximately 150 miles southwest of Tokyo in Omaezaki and Makinohara, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. and Drax Group plc. on March 31 each announced shareholder approval for the planned acquisition of Pinnacle by Drax. The transaction is expected to close in April 2021.
President Biden on March 31 released a $2 trillion infrastructure and jobs plan, officially titled the American Jobs Plan. Biofuel/bioproducts and carbon capture and storage (CSS) are each briefly addressed in the plan.
Enviva, MOL partner to reduce biomass supply chain GHG emissions
By Enviva
March 30, 2021
Enviva and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) have signed a memorandum of understanding agreement to develop and deploy an environmentally friendly bulk carrier. The companies aim to reduce the GHG emissions from the ocean transportation of wood pellets.
Martin Engineering: Unsafe work practices around conveyors
By Martin Engineering
March 25, 2021
Because of their size, speed and high-horsepower drive motors, conveyors pose a number of risks to those working on or near them. While fault is often attributed to worker actions, safety experts say that injuries occur due to a series of factors.
FutureMetrics on March 6 announced the first shipment of wood pellets was made from the Ayo Biomass pellet plant in Vietnam, a 120,000-metric-ton-per-year facility the company helped design, construct and commission.
Sens. Tina Smith, D-Minn.; and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V.; on March 25 introduced the Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage Tax Credit Amendments Act. The Carbon Capture Coalition and Growth Energy have spoken out in support of the bill.
The U.S. Senate on March 17 voted unanimously to confirm the nomination of Katherine Tai as U.S. trade representative. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative leads international trade negotiations and oversees the resolution of disputes.
Sens. Chris Coons, D-Del., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Reps. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, and David McKinley, R-W.V., on March 17 introduced the Storing CO2 and Lowering Emissions (SCALE) Act, a comprehensive CO2 infrastructure package.
USDA Rural Development has announced it will hold a feedback forum at 1:30 EDT on March 17 for lenders who have applied or are interested in applying to programs under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative.
The 2021 International Biomass Conference & Expo kicked off March 16 with a keynote address focused on biomass sustainability and a panel discussion with association leaders that addressed policy, markets and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The USDA on March 15 announced it is opening a 45-day public comment period to gather input on its climate-smart agriculture and forestry strategy, including several topics focused specifically on biofuels, bioproducts and renewable energy.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently released data showing U.S. manufacturers produced approximately 800,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in November, with sales reaching 770,000 tons.
Ørsted, Aker Carbon Capture, Microsoft explore BECSS projects
By Ørsted
March 11, 2021
Ørsted, Aker Carbon Capture, and Microsoft have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore ways to support the development of carbon capture and storage at biomass-fired heat and power plants in Denmark.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration released the latest edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook on March 9, predicting that electricity generation from renewables will reach 21 percent this year and 23 percent in 2022.
The U.K. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on March 9 announced it will invest £4 million ($5.57 million) in projects that aim to increase the production of sustainably sourced biomass in the U.K.
The U.S. Senate on March 10 voted 66 to 34 to confirm Michael Regan as administrator of the U.S. EPA. Representatives of the biofuels and bioenergy industries have spoken out in support of Regan's confirmation.
Cardboard-to-pellet project receives $95,000 grant
By Aurora College
March 08, 2021
An innovative partnership between Aurora College and a Gwich'in-owned company has received $95,000 to support studying the potential to convert waste cardboard into heating pellets for homes and businesses in Inuvik and the Beaufort Delta.
The U.S. exported 599,624.2 metric tons of wood pellets in January, up from both 564,826.2 metric tons in December and 500,904 metric tons in January 2020, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on March 5.
Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Joe Manchin, D-W.V., on March 1 introduced the American Jobs in Energy Manufacturing Act of 2021, which aims to incentivize domestic manufacturing of advanced energy technologies.
House Committee on Energy and Commerce democrats on March 2 introduced the CELAN Future Act, which sets a goal to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. The bill includes provisions related to the RFS and bioenergy.
Drax Group plc has announced an informal public consultation on its proposed BECSS project is open through late March. The consultation represents the first phase in securing a DCO from the U.K. government, which is needed to deploy the project.
Window of Opportunity
March 01, 2021
As if to underscore that 2020 would go down as the most unpredictable year in all our lives, a long-sought tax credit for wood and pellet heating appliances was signed into law in the year's final week.
The Carbon Capture Coalition on Feb. 24 released a national policy blueprint that includes near-term recommendations the group says policymakers should adopt in order to accelerate the deployment and commercialization of carbon capture projects.
Staying The Course
February 27, 2021
A milestone for achieving the historically elusive parity of biomass heat with other renewables, the BTU Act has finally passed. Now, industry stakeholders must strategize and collaborate to capitalize on momentum.
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