Yoshinobu Kusano has joined FutureMetrics as a policy advisor regarding the Asian wood pellet markets. He will provide FutureMetrics with updates and analysis on current and evolving policy in the high-growth regions of northeast and southeast Asia.
On Jan. 14, the Pellet Fuels Institute continued its ongoing effort to eliminate the inclusion of minimum pellet fuel requirements in the New Source Performance Standard by submitting written comments to the U.S. EPA prior to the comment deadline.
The U.S. EIA has released the January edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, predicting that the total share of renewable electricity generation will reach 18 percent in 2019 and 20 percent in 2020, up from 17 percent in 2018.
The U.K. government has released its Clean Air Strategy. The U.K. REA said it welcomes the ambitions of the strategy, but called on the government to take into account contemporary evidence on the role of bioenergy in meeting carbon targets.
Canada has officially become a member of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Canada becomes the Agency's 160th member to join the global intergovernmental organization dedicated to the widespread adoption of renewable energy.
Canada-based pellet producer Pinnacle Renewable Holdings Inc. recently announced it has changed its name to Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. Pinnacle currently operates eight wood pellet production facilities in western Canada and one in Alabama.
On Jan. 9, President Trump formally nominated Andrew Wheeler to serve as administrator of the U.S. EPA. Wheeler has held the post of acting administrator since July 9, 2018, following Scott Pruitt's resignation earlier that month.
Members of the public who wish to weigh in on the U.S. EPA's proposed rule to amend new source performance standards (NSPS) for residential wood heaters have less than a week to do so. The public comment period closes Jan. 14.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently released data showing that U.S. manufacturers produced approximately 720,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in September, with sales reaching 780,000 tons.
In recent years, we've heard more and more from people who believe the government is trying to regulate wood stoves out of existence.
The U.K. government recently released updated quarterly energy statistics showing that the renewables share of electricity generation increased to a record 33.1 percent during the third quarter of 2018.
Drax is set to play a bigger role than ever in Great Britain's energy system following the completion of the purchase of Spanish company Iberdrola's portfolio of flexible, low-carbon and renewable assets for £702 million.
An executive order on forest management issued by President Trump in late December addresses how rural economies can benefit through the utilization of byproducts created by forest restoration efforts.
The Maine Technology Institute has announced a request for responses to the Emerging Technology Challenge for Maine's Forest Resources. The goal of the challenge is to deploy a forest industry technology in Maine.
In a significant development for the clean fuels sector, Environment and Climate Change Canada has released the Regulatory Design Paper reflecting a year of intensive consultation on the national Clean Fuel Standard.
Portuguese bioenergy start-up Futerra Fuels has begun construction of its first pellet plant in Valongo, Portugal. The plant will have the capacity to produce 120,000 tons of torrefied pellets and 55,000 tons of industrial wood pellets annually.
On Dec. 20, President Trump signed the $867 billion 2018 Farm Bill into law. The bill, titled the Agricultural Improvement Act, or H.R. 2, reauthorizes several Energy Title programs, including REAP and BCAP.
FutureMetrics has released a new white paper that features a 2018 year-end review of the pellet market. According to the paper, 2018 was one of the strongest years for the global wood pellet market in terms of growth and pricing.
Wood pellet imports in Japan reached a record 506,000 metric tons in 2017, and are expected to increase this year, according to the country's annual biofuels report recently filed with the USDA FAS's Global Agricultural Information Network.
Stephen Faehner testified on behalf of the PFI at a public hearing regarding the recently proposed amendments and call for comments on the NSPS for new residential wood heaters, new residential hydronic heaters and forced-air furnaces.
We need to move forward with workable solutions that meet today's energy needs, while mitigating against climate change and protecting our forests at the same time.
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities has released a new request for proposals (RFP) for the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund. Up to $500,000 is available for 2019 grants to protect bottomland hardwood and other wetland forests.
The U.S. EIA has released the December edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, predicting that nonhydropower renewables will provide 10 percent of U.S. utility-scale power generation this year, increasing to 11 percent in 2011.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the $867 billion 2018 Farm Bill by a vote of 369 to 47 on Dec. 12. The legislation will now be sent to President Trump's desk. Trump is expected to sign the bill.
On Dec. 11, the Senate voted 87 to 13 to pass the 2018 Farm Bill. The vote came one day after House and Senate ag committee leaders released the text of the 2018 Farm Bill conference report. The bill will now be considered by the House.
Doosan Babcock and Drax Power Limited have agreed a new long-term contract for the provision of maintenance and outage services to the U.K.'s largest power station. The relationship between the two companies dates back to construction of the plant.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently released data showing that U.S. manufacturers produced approximately 760,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in August, with sales reaching 730,000 tons.
Efficiency Vermont is partnering with participating stove dealers around the state to apply a $650 discount at the point of purchase for select stove models. To qualify for the rebate the stoves must be professionally installed.
The U.K. BEIS has published a national bioeconomy strategy for 2018 to 2030. The U.K. REA spoke out in support of the strategy, noting it endorses the use of biobased resources as fundamental to U.K. goals for decarbonization and economic growth.
The European Pellet Council, governing body of the ENplus certification for wood pellets, has announced the launch of a revision process for the scheme's procedures and requirements. It is the third revision in the scheme's history.
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