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.
Forest Service offers extension of timber contracts
By U.S. Forest Service
April 17, 2020
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.
Drax, GB Railfreight help keep the lights on during pandemic
By Drax Group
April 16, 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 donates $30,000 local communities
By Drax Biomass
April 15, 2020
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 will supply two complete pellet plants in Belarus
By Prodesa
April 08, 2020
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 receives 100th biomass cargo from US export facility
By Drax Group
April 07, 2020
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, The Longleaf Alliance announce partnership
By Enviva
April 01, 2020
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.
BHW urges UK government to keep biomass supply chains open
By Biomass Heat Works!
March 26, 2020
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.
The Forest Products Association of Canada sent a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on March 20 urging him to recognize the Canadian forest products sector as essential and critical infrastructure during the COVID-29 pandemic.
PFI urges states to exempt pellet plant from business shutdowns
By Pellet Fuels Institute
March 25, 2020
On March 24, the Pellet Fuels Institute sent letters to the governors of wood pellet producing states urging them to align their essential businesses policies with those outlined by the Department of Homeland Security in guidance released March 19.
Future Forests + Jobs announced on March 25 the launch of the FFJ Research Directory, a repository of academic research, papers and studies that document the positive contributions wood bioenergy is making to the energy sector.
Kcoe Isom hosted a webinar on March 24 that discussed crisis planning and employee communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. The event also discussed emergency family and medical leave and offered tips for working remotely.
Will Gardiner, CEO of Drax Group, released a statement on March 25 explaining how Drax and its employees are working to ensure the U.K. is supplied with the power it needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The federal government has classified workers who support the manufacture and distribution of forest products as part of the critical infrastructure workforce. Meanwhile, the FRA is tracking the impact of COVID-19 on the forest products industry.
Canada-based pellet producer Pinnacle Renewable Energy issued a statement on March 19 announcing the operations of its facilities have not been impacted by COVID-19. Pinnacle CEO Rob McCurdy, however, is delaying his planned retirement.
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