On behalf of the Australian Government, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency is seeking input from stakeholders in Australia's bioenergy sector to underpin the development of the Bioenergy Roadmap.
The U.K. government on April 28 published the results of a 2018 public consultation focused on the use RHI support for biomass in urban areas, geographical restrictions on biogas combustion, and maintenance checks for existing biomass boilers.
Enviva Partners LP held an earnings call on April 30 to discuss first quarter 2020 financial results. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the company reported significant increases in net income and adjusted EBITDA.
The Canadian government announced on April 24 it will delay publication of proposed regulations for the liquid fuel class of its Clean Fuel Standard until fall 2020 due to extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Enviva on April 21 published its 2020 Implementation Plans, a detailed proposal of new goals and initiatives to continue to deliver on the company's commitment to responsible and sustainable wood sourcing.
Network Rail has reopened one of the most important freight lines in the U.K. after an unprecedented 24/7 operation to keep the lights on. The line into Drax Power Station was inundated with flood water in February when a nearby river flooded.
Drax Group plc released a trading statement on April 22 providing insight into its first quarter financial performance and confirming the company is in a strong position to support its employees, customers and communities during the COVID-19 crisis.
The U.K. government recently released updated energy statistics showing the renewables share of electricity generation reached a record 36.9 percent last year, with 119 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity generated from renewable sources.
The U.S. Forest Service on April 16 announced it is awarding a total of $7.62 million to 35 projects as part of the agency's Wood Innovations Grant Program. Eight of those projects focus on renewable energy.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service is offering to extend contract deadlines on certain timber sales, sale of property stewardship contracts and forest product permits awarded or issued before April 1, 2020.
Teams at GB Railfreight are continuing to work closely with Drax to maintain supplies of the sustainable biomass needed for the U.K.'s largest power station to generate electricity needed by millions of homes and business during the COVID-19 crisis.
Drax Biomass is donating $30,000 to help families and businesses in northeastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi who have been impacted by the Covid-19 crisis and recent tornadoes in the Monroe area.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on April 13 unveiled a one-stop-shop of federal programs that can be used by rural communities, organizations and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently released data showing U.S. manufacturers produced approximately 770,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in December, with sales reaching 840,000 tons.
Prodesa has signed an agreement to accomplish two pellet plants under turnkey contracts in Belarus. The projects are expected to come online in early 2021 and deliver up to 20 tons per hour of industrial wood pellets.
Drax has received the 100th cargo of sustainable biomass from its export facility at the port of Baton Rouge in Louisiana, marking an important milestone in five years of its operation supplying wood pellets to the U.K.'s largest power station.
COVID-19 is impacting virtually all U.S. industries, including the renewable power sector. The EIA released its STEO on April 7 reporting that COVID-19 and the resulting economic slowdown will likely impact the development of new generating capcity.
The U.S. Department of Energy on March 27 announced it making up to $15 million available to deploy energy technology on tribal lands. Bioenergy projects are among those eligible for the funding, according to the funding opportunity announcement.
The U.S. EPA sent a letter to members of Congress on April 2 clarifying the temporary enforcement policy the agency announced on March 26 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and offering assurances the agency continues to enforce its regulatons.
Active Energy Group announced on March 30 that the public comment period for the construction and air permit needed for the company's proposed CoalSwitch plant in Lumberton, North Carolina, has been extended through April 27 due to COVID-19.
The U.S exported 546,435.2 metric tons of wood pellets in February, up from both 500,904 tons in January and 501,563.9 tons in February 2019, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on April 2.
Enviva and The Longleaf Alliance have signed a five-year partnership to protect and restore longleaf pine forests. Enviva and The Longleaf Alliance will collaboratively implement Enviva's longleaf forest restoration plan.
The USDA on April 1 published a notice seeking comments on the most important agricultural innovation opportunities to be addressed in the near and long term. The comments will inform efforts related to the agency's Agricultural Innovaton Agenda.
Enviva Chairman and CEO John Keppler sent a letter to stakeholders on March 30 announcing the company's operations have not been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak and reaffirming the company's financial guidance for 2020.
The U.S. EPA on March 26 announced g a temporary policy regarding EPA enforcement of environmental legal obligations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The policy applies to civil violoations duirng the outbreak.
Renova Inc. announced March 24 it has reached financial close on the 74.95 megawatt (MW) Ishinomaki Hibarino Biomass Power Generation Project in Ishinomaki, Japan. The facility will be fueled with wood pellets and palm kernel shells.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill March 25 that recognizes the contributions of the forest products sector to the state's climate response and affirms it is in the public interest to support all aspects of a fully integrated forest sector.
Industry leaders are urging government to keep U.K. wood fuel supply chains fully open to ensure suppliers can continue delivering to home heating customers and key frontline organisations and businesses during the coronavirus outbreak.
Construction on the Tees Renewable Energy Plant (Tees REP) a 299 megawatt (MW) biomass power plant in the U.K. was suspended on March 24 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A small number of critical maintenance staff remain onsite.
Despite guidance from federal agencies recognizing forest product manufacturing sites as an essential critical infrastructure workforce, Pennsylvania wood pellet producers were temporarily forced to shutdown March 19. The issue was resolved March 21.
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