Biomass Week - February 3, 2021

February 3, 2021

Vilsack: Biofuels, bioenergy can help meet climate goals Secretary of agriculture nominee Tom Vilsack stressed the important role biofuels and bioenergy will play in meeting the Biden administration’s climate goals during a Feb. 2 hearing before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. READ MORE SHARE
EU report confirms climate benefits of sustainable biomass The European Commission’s Joint Research Center on Jan. 25 published a report on the use of woody biomass for energy production in the European Union. The U.S. Industrial Pellet Association and Bioenergy Europe have welcomed the report. READ MORE SHARE
	Valero: 470 MMgy renewable diesel project in Texas moves forward Valero has announced it will immediately move forward with the development of a new 470 MMgy renewable diesel plant at its refinery in Port Arthur, Texas. Expansion projects are also underway at the company’s existing Diamond Green Diesel facility. READ MORE SHARE
Biden’s climate crisis order addresses biobased fuels, products President Biden on Jan. 27 issued an executive order that aims to tackle the climate crisis, create jobs and restore scientific integrity across the federal government. The order addresses the production and sourcing of biobased products and fuels. READ MORE SHARE
Verbio to commission Iowa biomethane project in fall 2021 German bioenergy producer Verbio Vereinigte BioEnergie AG confirmed on Jan. 29 that its straw-to-biomethane facility under development at the site of Dupont’s former cellulosic ethanol plant in Nevada, Iowa, is expected to begin operations this fall. READ MORE SHARE
Drax completes sale of natural gas-fueled assets Drax on Feb. 1 announced that it has completed the sale of its natural gas-fueled power generation assets. The company also said it will end commercial coal generation on March 31, with formal closure of its remaining coal assets in September 2022. READ MORE SHARE
Varennes Carbon Recycling facility reaches financial close Varennes Carbon Recycling, the landmark waste to biofuels plant in Varennes, Québec, has now reached financial close, with investment agreements signed by Proman and its partners, Shell, Suncor, the Government of Québec, and Enerkem. READ MORE SHARE
Carbon Capture Coalition submits recommendations to Biden The Carbon Capture Coalition on Jan. 21 sent a memo to President Biden’s climate team that includes a targeted list of climate, energy, infrastructure and related federal policy recommendations for the first 100 days of his administration. READ MORE SHARE
Aemetis accepts offtake contract bids for Carbon Zero 1 plant Aemetis Inc. on Feb. 1 announced the opening of a bid proposal process for $2 billion in offtake contracts for the launch of its proposed 25 MMgy biorefinery in Riverbank, California, that will produce jet fuel, renewable diesel and other byproducts. READ MORE SHARE
Court seeks status report on EPA compliance with 2017 order The U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit has directed the U.S. EPA to submit a status report every 60 days “on its progress in complying with the court’s remand” stemming from the July 2017 ruling in Americans for Clean Energy v EPA. READ MORE SHARE