Pinnacle to build new pellet plant in Alabama
December 20, 2019
Pinnacle Renewable Energy announced on Dec. 19 plans to build a new 360,000-metric-ton-per-year pellet plant adjacent to an existing sawmill in Demopolis, Alabama. The facility is expected to begin commissioning during the second quarter of 2021.
IAC has partnered with Agra Industries to bring to market an enhanced line of equipment to handle the wet bucking, chopping of the harvested hemp, drying of the hemp, storage and shipping of the material in various stages for extraction.
The U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 17 voted to pass two legislative packages that comprise all 12 fiscal year 2020 funding bills. The packages also include tax extenders legislation that extends several biofuel and bioenergy tax credits.
Pinnacle announces fiber supply agreement with ARM
December 17, 2019
Pinnacle Renewable Energy announced on Dec. 16 it has entered into a three-year fiber supply agreement with Alkali Resource Management Ltd. The fiber will be used at Pinnacle's Williams Lake pellet plant in British Columbia.
Dan Brouillette was sworn in to serve as the 15th U.S. secretary of energy on Dec. 11. He was nominated to the post by President Trump on Nov. 7 and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Dec. 2 by a vote of 70 to 15.
The EIA released the December edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook on Dec. 11 predicting nonhydropower renewables will provide 10 percent of total U.S. utility-scale power generation in 2019, increasing to 12 percent in 2020.
The U.S. exported 550,035.3 tons of wood pellets during October, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on Dec. 5. Exports were down when compared to both October 2018 and September 2019.
New app helps design buildings that use biomass for heat
By Colorado State Forest Service
December 10, 2019
With the coming of the winter heating season, the Colorado State Forest Service is debuting a new tool to help builders make new buildings more climate conscious and less dependent on non-renewable sources of energy.
Drax aims to become carbon negative by 2030
December 10, 2019
Drax group plc CEO Will Gardiner has announced the U.K. energy company plans to be carbon negative by 2030. Gardiner made the announcement on Dec. 10 at the Power Past Coal Alliance event at COP 25 in Madrid, Spain.
The EIA recently released data showing U.S. manufactures produced 820,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in August, with sales reaching 900,000 tons. Production included 195,382 tons of heating pellets and 625,896 tons of utility pellets.
Mitsubishi Corp. on Dec. 4 announced plans to convert the Suzukawa Energy Center Ltd. to biomass. The 112-megawatt facility is currently fired with coal. The plant is expected to begin producing renewable energy from wood pellets in April 2022.
The U.S. Senate voted 70-15 on Dec. 2 to confirm Dan Brouillette as energy secretary following his Nov. 7 nomination by President Trump. Brouillette previously served as deputy energy secretary under former Energy Secretary Rick Perry.
Enviva released a statement on Dec. 2 announcing the Alabama Department of Environmental Management has approved a permit allowing Enviva to construct a wood pellet facility in Sumter County, Alabama.
Enviva Forest Conservation fund protects forestland in Virginia
By U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities
November 25, 2019
An important watershed forest along the beautiful and biodiverse Nottoway River in Southampton County, Virginia, will now be permanently preserved thanks in part to a grant from the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund.
Japan-based Renova Inc. announced Nov. 19 it has made a final investment decision and reached financial close on a 75 megawatt biomass power plant located approximately 150 miles southwest of Tokyo in Omaezaki and Makinohara, Shizuoka Prefecture.
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced it will provide up to $15 million in new funding to deploy energy infrastructure on tribal lands. Biomass, biogas and waste-to-energy systems are among those that can qualify for funding.
Enviva Partners LP announced on Nov. 20 the Virginia DEQ has approved requested modifications to its existing air permit that will allow for increased production capacity and increased use of softwood at Enviva's Southampton pellet plant.
Drax Group plc released a trading statement on Nov. 19 announcing the company plans to have 5 million metric tons of annual pellet capacity in place by 2027. The increased capacity is expected to help reduce biomass costs.
Biomass heating system commissioned in New York
By New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
November 19, 2019
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Adirondack Park Agency, and New York State Police on Nov. 14 formally commissioned a renewable biomass heating system at the State Office Campus in Ray Brook, New York.
The House Ways and Means Committee released a discussion draft of the Growing Renewable Energy and Efficiency Now (GREEN) Act on Nov. 19. The draft includes several tax incentives to support biofuels and bioenergy.
Pinnacle Renewable Energy released third quarter financial results on Nov. 12, reporting progress with upgrades at several existing wood pellet plants. Revenue also increased despite issues with ongoing sawmill curtailments in British Columbia.
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced its Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on Nov. 19-20 in Washington, D.C. The event is open to the public.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration released an updated Short-Term Energy Outlook on Nov. 13 predicting that non-hydro renewables will provide 10 percent of total U.S. utility-scale power generation this year, increasing to 12 percent in 2020.
USDA: Pellet exports reach 626,472 tons in September
November 12, 2019
The U.S. exported 626,471.8 tons of wood pellets in September, according to data published by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on Nov. 5. Exports were down when compared to August, but up from September 2018.
President Trump on Nov. 7 formally nominated current U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette to serve as the next secretary of energy. Brouillette will replace current Secretary of Energy Rick Perry if confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
The 28 European Union member states produced nearly 17 million metric tons of wood pellets last year and consumed nearly 27 million metric tons, according to date recently released by Bioenergy Europe.
Biomass Magazine has announced the agenda for the 13th annual International Biomass Conference & Expo taking place February 3-5, 2020 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Solariant closes financing on 50 MW biomass plant in Japan
By Solariant Capital
November 05, 2019
Solariant Capital and its equity parnters Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc., Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance Co. Ltd., and Bio Fuel Co. Inc. recently announced financing has closed on a 50 MW biomass power generation project in Japan.
A recent white paper published by FutureMetrics LLC discusses wood pellet markets in Japan and South Korea and provides insight into how policies in those countries impact power producers' ability to pay for pellet fuel under long-term contracts.
The Energy Information Administration hasreleased data showing U.S. manufacturers produced 790,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in July, with sales at 730,000 tons. Inventories of both premium/standard pellets and utility pellets were up in July.
Advertisement
Advertisement
