The Biogenic CO2 Coalition sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on June 9 urging the agency to seek public comments on the regulatory treatment of biogenic CO2 from annual agriculture crops.
A report released by the UN Environment Programme, the Frankfurt School-UNEP Collaborating Centre, and BloombergNEF on June 10 shows biomass and waste-to-energy received $123 billion in financing for new projects between 2010 and 2019.
A 28-day pre-application consultation (PAC) for the Uskmouth conversion project is now open. SIMEC Atlantis Energy Ltd. has proposed to convert the U.K.-based coal-fired power plant to operate using waste-derived fuel pellets.
A new $17 million program in Tuolumne County, California, will provide loans to increase the use of low- and no-value wood from Tuolumne County forests and provide an alternative to pile burning of forest waste.
The U.S. exported 595,166.2 metric tons of wood pellets in April, up from the 424,680.5 million tons that were exported in April 2019, but down from the 670,463.8 million tons that were exported in March 2020, according to data released by the USDA.
Fagus GreCon Inc. has added Todd Havican as director of sales. Havican officially joined the organization as of May 4, 2020 with over 25 years of experience leading sales teams in a variety of industries.
On May 1, Pacific BioEnergy Corp. (PacBio) achieved another milestone by planting its first seedling in the Bobtail fire area west of Prince George. During the next two months, 1.1 million seedlings will be planted in the area.
The Growing Climate Solutions Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate on June 4. The bill aims to break down barriers for farmers and foresters interested in participating in carbon markets so they can be rewarded for climate-smart practices.
The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration has announced the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee will hold a virtual meeting via WebEX on June 4. The meeting will be the final of REEEAC's current term.
U.K. electricity generation from fossil fuels fell by 25 percent between the first quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020—the largest fall on record, according to data released in the latest in the Drax Electric Insights report.
The National Resources Institute of Finland recently released data showing a total of 363,000 metric tons of wood pellets were produced in the country last year, down approximately 6 percent when compared to 2018.
SPOTLIGHT: When passive explosion venting is needed inside a pellet facility, or in areas where conventional venting is unsafe, REMBE has a reliable, maintenance-free solution that is easily installed on a variety of hazard-prone equipment.
SPOTLIGHT: Fagus GreCon delivers smart technology that identifies and squelches potential sources of fires and explosions before it's too late. The system can differentiate between dangerous sparks and harmless incidences of extraneous light.
A Pennsylvania pellet plant reduced its chances of incurring a dangerous explosion by installing oscillating fans that create a horizontal air barrier inside the structure, preventing combustible dust from settling up high in the rafters.
Next fall, people will need to heat their homes, regardless of the pandemic. So long as the upstream forest products manufacturing sector recovers and generates the fiber wood pellet producers rely on, the industry will be ready and able to supply.
The Biogenic CO2 Coalition released a video on May 27 highlighting the need for a rulemaking to clarify the de minimis character of biogenic carbon emissions from the processing of annual agricultural crops.
A one-year old rail link has increased capacity to deliver more sustainable biomass from Drax's LaSalle BioEnergy pellet plant in Urania, Louisiana, to its U.K. power station, taking thousands of trucks off local roads.
Sound explosion prevention and protection strategies are critical in the most susceptible areas of a pellet plant. One process vessel especially prone to a dust explosion is the air-material separator, due to the very dry, fine dust it pulls in.
According to National Fire Protection Association standards for combustible dust, facilities utilizing wood-based products, including pellet mills and other biomass processing plants, must have a dust hazard analysis completed by early September.
The lines of communication between pellet facility employees, management and local fire and emergency response personnel begin with robust training and planning. But even the best-laid plans are only as good as a plant's practice regimen.
For operations struggling with ash and slagging, the solution can often be found in the management of potential contamination sources. It's important to understand differences between tree species, and varying inclusion rates of bark, dirt and dust.
The EPA has opened a public comment period on a proposed rule that aims to allow retailers the opportunity to recover sales opportunities lost to the COVID-19 pandemic for wood heating appliances that meet Step 1 requirements under the 2015 NSPS.
The U.S. Industrial Pellet Association has welcomed the EU Biodiversity Strategy, which acknowledges that sustainable biomass will be integral to achieving Europe's carbon reduction and biodiversity goals.
The U.S. EPA's proposed rule to extend the sales deadline for Step 1 wood heaters, rulemaking to classify biomass as carbon neutral and issues associated with the RFS and SREs were among the topics discussed during a May 20 Senate hearing.
The American Coalition for Ethanol is pleased to announce its 33rd annual conference will be held in conjunction with the rescheduled International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo hosted by BBI International on Aug. 25, in Omaha, Nebraska.
The EPA has released a proposed rule that aims to establish consistent requirements and procedures for the issuance of guidance documents. The agency said the rule will increase transparency and improve its process for managing guidance documents.
The results of a survey by Hawkins Wright found 58 percent of wood pellet producers felt COVID-19 was negatively impacting their business, but only 33 percent reported that they had reduced production as a result.
The EPA on May 15 proposed to allow manufacturers and retailers additional time to sell residential wood heating devices that meet Step 1 standards under the 2015 new source performance standards due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Network Rail, Lynemouth Power Limited, Port of Tyne and GBRF are working together to keep the lights on at 450,000 homes across the U.K. The railway and its key workers are keeping vital freight services moving during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The U.K. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has extended the public consultation period on proposed changes to its Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme. Comments are now due on May 29.
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