Tom Vilsack is once again leading the USDA. The Senate on Feb. 23 voted 92 to seven to confirm him as secretary of agriculture. Vilsack, a former two-term governor of Iowa, served as ag secretary during all eight years of the Obama administration.
Family-owned ButlerWood supplies quality cookwood to the growing BBQ pellet market.
Enviva on Feb. 17 announced its goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its operations by 2030. This commitment to climate action reinforces Enviva's core purpose to displace coal, grow more trees, and fight climate change.
Reps. David McKinley, R-W.V., and Marc Veasey, D-Texas, on Feb. 16 reintroduced the ACCESS 45Q Act. The bill extends the date for projects to begin construction to claim the 45Q tax credit by 10 years and provides a direct pay elective.
Waste Knot Energy has negotiated a strategic partnership agreement with international supply management company Komercon. Under the agreement, Waste Knot will supply 3.6 million metric tons of pellets to Komercon over the next five years.
A recent discovery by researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) could help hasten use of cheap and plentiful agricultural waste as the go-to material for producing biobased fuel pellets used for power generation and home heating.
Comprehensive combustible dust explosion protection does not necessarily have to be expensive or complicated. An innovative technology makes it possible to divert the shock wave and flames of an explosion in a controlled manner.
USDA Rural Development has announced it is now accepting applications for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements through the Rural Energy for America Program. Applications must be submitted by March 31.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently released data showing U.S. manufacturers produced approximately 850,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in October, with sales reaching 800,000 tons.
Dansons USA has announced it will open the country's largest barbecue wood pellet mill and distribution center in Hope, Arkansas. The facility will start with 100,000 tons of capacity, with future plans to expand to 300,000 tons.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration released the latest edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook on Feb. 9, predicting electricity generation from renewable sources will reach 21 percent this year, up from 20 percent in 2020.
Drax Group plc announced on Feb. 8 it has signed an agreement to acquire Canada-based pellet producer Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. The acquisition will more than double Drax's pellet production capacity.
At the end of 2020, Congress passed an omnibus relief package that included numerous provisions on renewable energy and energy efficiency. Among those was the inclusion of biomass heaters in section 25(D) of the IRS tax code.
Late last year, the Maine Public Utilities Commission rejected attempts to add heat pumps to the state thermal renewable energy credit program and adopted all of our industry's recommendations.
Whether a joint venture, solo on-site project or part of a developer's fiber-sourcing strategy, use of sawmill residue for pellet production presents advantages.
The U.S. exported nearly 7.26 million metric tons of wood pellets in 2020, up 5 percent from the 6.92 million metric tons exported in 2019, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on Feb. 5.
Sawmills in the Northwest maintained aggressive production levels in Q4, while softwood chip exports declined, residual chip prices fell, and sawdust prices in every region were on par with those seen in 2018.
The Forest Enhancement Society of British Columbia has announced it will award $3 million to 15 projects as part of its effort to support jobs in the forestry sector and increase the use of wood fiber that would otherwise be burned as slash.
The Japanese biomass market is on the cusp of some major developments that will change the dynamics of the market in the coming years.
Michael Regan, President Biden's nominee to serve as administrator of the U.S. EPA, said the RFS will be a priority the current administration and stressed agriculture will have a seat at the table when it comes to Biden's climate objectives.
Existing U.S. coal power stations can be part of the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Via an innovative, accessible platform, the International Biomass Conference & Expo will held virtually March 16-17.
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.
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.
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.
Frank Pellets, a pellet manufacturer located in Mill City, Oregon, has become the Pellet Fuels Institute's newest fuel manufacturer member. Frank Pellets was established in 2008 to utilize the wood waste streams from an adjacent sawmill.
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.
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.
Enviva has received the Elizabeth River Project's “Sustained Distinguished Performance River Star Business� award. The award recognizes several environmental initiatives deployed at Enviva's Port of Chesapeake terminal.
The U.S. EPA's long-stalled implementation of landfill emissions regulations, the repeal of the Clean Power Plan, and the SAFE Vehicles Rule are three of the many federal regulations that are set to be reviewed by the Biden administration.
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