The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced June 24 plans to hold an open meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee on June 26 in Missoula, Montana.
The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration is awarding $1.4 million to a project in Lucedale, Mississippi, that will benefit a proposed 1.4-million-metric-ton-per-year wood pellet plant under development by Enviva.
FutureMetrics has released a statement criticizing the U.S. EPA's Affordable Clean Energy Program for its treatment of biomass and calling the program's discussion of how to measure CO2 emissions “misguided.�
Lee Enterprises Consulting has added four new members to its team of 100-plus subject matter bioeconomy experts, including Chris Burk, P.E.; Daren Daugaard, Ph.D. P.E.; David Whittle; and Tad Dritz, P.E.
Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., introduced the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2019 on June 18. The bill extends several biofuel- and bioenergy-related tax credits through 2020. The legislation was scheduled for markup on June 20.
The EPA released its final rule for its Affordable Clean Energy program June 19. The program replaces the Clean Power Plan and aims to reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants. Biomass co-firing is not a compliance option under the ACE rule.
The U.S. exported 424,680.5 tons of wood pellets in April, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on June 6. Exports volumes were down from both the prior month and the same period of the previous year.
Self-heating Hazards of Biomass Materials
By Vahid Ebadat
June 17, 2019
The biomass energy sector is growing rapidly, and the number of fires and explosions in the industry is unfortunately growing along with it—it's time to act.
The U.S. Department of Energy is seeking nominations for candidates to fill vacancies on its Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee. Nominations must be submitted by June 30.
The Biomass Thermal Energy Council and 140 members of the BTU Act Coalition are urging members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to include the Biomass Thermal Utilization Act of 2019 as they address tax extenders legislation.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently released data showing U.S. manufacturers produced approximately 700,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in February, with sales reaching 710,000 tons.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the June edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, predicting nonhydropower renewables will provide 11 percent of U.S. power generation in 2019, increasing to 13 percent in 2020.
Sens. Chris Coons, D-Del., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Reps. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., and Ron Estes, R-Kan., reintroduced a bill June 13 that aims to give investors in clean energy projects access to the use of master limited partnerships (MLPs).
British Prime Minister Theresa May announced June 12 that the U.K. Parliament has introduced legislation that will mandate the country achieves net-zero emissions by 2050. Bioenergy is expected to help reach that goal.
Enviva Forest Conservation Fund awards 2019 grants
By U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities,
June 12, 2019
The Enviva Forest Conservation Fund has announced the recipients of its 2019 grants. The projects funded will help conserve a total of more than 7,450 acres and protect ecologically sensitive bottomland forests in Virginia and North Carolina.
The EPA is inviting nominations of scientific experts to be considered for appointment to the agency's Science Advisory Board and four SAB committees, including the SAB Agricultural Science Committee, which provides advice on ag-related industries.
U.K.-based Active Energy Group released a progress update June 4 on its CoalSwitch manufacturing facility in Lumberton, North Carolina, reporting the company is making rapid progress in advancing construction of the project.
Resalta, an energy developer active in Central and Eastern Europe, announced June 6 that a wood pellet-fueled cogeneration plant in Slatina, Croatia, is now operational. The facility has an electric capacity of 5 MW and a heat capacity of 12 MW.
The U.K. Renewable Energy Association has released the second installment of its industry-led Bioenergy Strategy, reporting that bioenergy can meeting the U.K.'s projected shortfall of the 5th Carbon Budget and the impending nuclear gap.
Enviva launches enhanced, expanded global sourcing policy
By Enviva Holdings LP
June 04, 2019
Enviva Holdings LP, in partnership with the Earthworm Foundation, has announced that it is enhancing its responsible sourcing policy to better accomplish its commitment to the highest possible standards in sustainability.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has announced a future rail project at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge will allow for expedited shipments of wood pellets. He said development of the project is expected to begin in the near future.
Data recently released by Imperial College London as part of the Drax Electric Insights Quarterly report shows that biomass accounted for 5.3 percent of the Britain's electricity supply mix during the first quarter of 2019.
The new $115 million LaSalle Lumber Co. LLC facility was dedicated in Urania, Louisiana, May 29. The sawmill will provide residual wood waste from its lumber operations to Drax Biomass's adjacent LaSalle Bioenergy pellet plant.
Drax: Energy companies announce new zero-carbon UK partnership
By Drax Group
May 29, 2019
Drax Group, Equinor and National Grid Ventures have signed an MOU committing them to work together to explore how a large-scale carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS) network and a hydrogen production facility could be constructed in the mid-2020s.
Wood Chips, GoodChips
By Chris Wiberg
May 24, 2019
Bioenergy Europe has brought forward the “GoodChips� program, which is being offered as the first international certification scheme for wood chips as it pertains to their use as a solid biofuel.
Saving A Sawmill
By Ron Kotrba
May 22, 2019
With the local pulp mill closed, a revived sawmill in British Columbia develops a pellet project to turn residue disposal costs into a revenue stream to save the business.
Graanul Invest submits winning bid for Texas pellets assets
By Graanul Invest
May 22, 2019
An affiliate of Graanul Invest submitted the winning bid in the auction conducted on May 9 for the assets of Texas Pellets Inc. and German Pellets Texas LLC. The assets include a pellet plant in Woodville, Texas, and a port terminal in Port Arthur.
Fiber Factors
May 21, 2019
Wet weather, the China trade war and new commercial trucking laws could soon impact fiber supply and prices for some producers, if not already.
UK official visits bioenergy carbon capture project at Drax
By Drax Group
May 21, 2019
U.K. Government Minister and Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Robert Jenrick MP, has visited Drax Power Station to find out about its world-first bioenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS) pilot project.
Saving the Environment and Bottom Lines by Reducing Emissions
By Becky Long
May 20, 2019
One of the largest sources of emissions is from the creation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), by thermally damaging product in the dryer itself.
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