Simec Atlantis Energy Ltd. announced in mid-July that it now plans to develop its proposed U.K.-based Uskmouth power station conversion project in two phases. The company is also considering options to co-locate data centers at the plant.
An annual report filed with the USDA shows that the EU's wood pellet market has been relatively unaffected by COVID-19 but cautions further market expansion could be limited by member state sustainability requirements.
The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration is seeking nominations for members of its Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee. Nominations are due July 31.
Forest Enhancement Society of British Colombia grants are supporting the Williams Lake First Nation as it creates jobs, fights climate change and reduces wildfire risk by providing slash for use in wood pellet production and bioenergy use.
Members of Congress in key Midwestern states have received over 10,000 individual letters from constituents urging them to press the EPA to address a regulatory barrier preventing growth in the bioeconomy, according to the Biogenic CO2 Coalition.
The Dutch Social Economic Council (SER) in July advised the Dutch government to phase out bioenergy and instead use biomass for high value applications, according to a report filed with the USDA FAS's Global Agricultural Information Network.
BBI International has announced that the 2020 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo, the ethanol industry's largest conference, has been moved and will be virtual, due to the outbreak of COVID-19. The event will now take place Sept. 15-17.
DB Cargo U.K. will operate an average of 60 trains per week from the ports of Immingham and Hull to Drax Power Station in Selby, Yorkshire. Each train will carry around 1,650 metric tons of sustainable biomass to Drax Power Station.
Enviva Partners LP has completed the previously announced acquisition from its sponsor of Enviva Pellets Greenwood Holdings II LLC, which, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, owns a wood pellet production plant in Greenwood, South Carolina.
Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. has announced its subsidiary, Alabama Pellets LLC, recently signed an agreement with the State of Alabama that provides Alabama Pellets with incentives for job creation under Alabama's Job Act Incentives program.
The Biogenic CO2 Coalition on July 10 issued a statement commending a bipartisan group of four members of Congress for pressing the U.S. EPA to address the concerns of agricultural crop producers and processors in a biogenic CO2 rulemaking.
The USDA on July 13 issued a final rule that aims to increase private investment in rural communities by making it easier for lenders to access four guaranteed loan programs, including the Rural Energy for America Program.
The U.S. Industrial Pellet Association on July 13 issued a statement expressing disappointment that a recent European court ruling regarding the inclusion of wood biomass in the European Union's Renewable Energy Directive is being appealed.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently released data showing U.S. manufacturers produced approximately 770,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in March, with sales reaching 790,000 tons.
The U.S. EPA on July 9 released a proposed rule that aims to amend emission standards for certain categories of boilers based on the maximum achievable control technologies (MACT). The AWC said it is encouraged by the clarity the rule provides.
Valmet will supply a complete plant for the production of district heat to Göteborg Energi AB in Gothenburg, Sweden. The new hot water plant will reduce CO2 emissions and allowed for increased use of wood pellets.
SIMEC Atlantis Energy has completed industrial-scale combustion testing of the waste-derived fuel pellets it plans to use as fuel at the Uskmouth Power Station following its conversion. The company has also released an updated project timeline.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration currently predicts electricity U.S. generation from renewable energy sources will reach 20 percent in 2020 and 22 percent in 2021, according to agency's latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, released July 7.
The U.S. exported 572,499.8 metric tons of wood pellets in May, up from 553,885.4 metric tons exported during the same month of last year, but down from the 595,166.2 metric tons exported in April, according to data released by the USDA on July 2.
The U.K. government has announced that applicants to the non-domestic RHI scheme will have an extra 14 months to complete projects delayed by COVID-19. The government also confirmed that a third allocation for the non-domestic RHI will open in July.
The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis on June 30 unveiled a climate crisis action plan that aims to serve as a congressional roadmap to help the U.S. reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Biomass, biogas and biofuels will help meet that goal.
The Netherlands doubled its wood pellet imports to a record 1.22 million metric tons in 2019, according to a report filed with the USDA. Imports are expected to double again this year based on the co-firing plans of Dutch power companies.
Vattenfall, a power company owned by the government of Sweden, announced on June 25 it will delay making a final decision on the construction of a proposed 120 megawatt biomass-fired district heating plant planned for development near Amsterdam.
Drax Group and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering Ltd., part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group, have agreed a new bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) pilot project at Drax Power Station that will get underway this autumn.
Testimony offered during a June 24 hearing held by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry to consider the Growing Climate Solutions Act explains how the bill could benefit the biofuel and bioproducts industries.
Aurora Energy Solutions LLC, a new company owned by Usibelli Investments, announced June 10 that it has acquired the assets of Superior Pellet Fuels and is constructing a state-of-the-art wood kiln. The kiln will produce clean-burning dry firewood.
Enviva Partners LP announced on June 18 it has agreed to purchase a wood pellet plant located in Waycross, Georgia, associated export terminal capacity in Savannah, Georgia, and a wood pellet plant located in Greenwood, South Carolina.
U.K.-based climate think-tank Ember released a report in June that claims the U.K. should abandon the carbon tax break afforded to large biomass power plants. Both the USIPA and U.K. REA say the report ignores current science on biomass.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on June 12 issued a memorandum to Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen providing direction that will serve as a blueprint to help modernize the agency's systems and approaches.
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 680,000 tons.
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