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.
On Feb. 10, Will County, Illinois, officials and its construction trade partners signed a project labor agreement (PLA) for the $45 million renewable natural gas (RNG) plant approved for construction at the county-owned Prairie View landfill.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on Jan. 27 released proposed regulations to implement the Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Act, which was enacted in 2019 and takes effect on Jan. 1, 2022.
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.
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.
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.
The European Biogas Association launched on Jan. 25 an enhanced edition of the EBA Statistical Report. The report shows Europe had a total of 18,943 biogas plants and 725 biomethane plants installed as of the close of 2019.
The Integrated Biogas Alliance, in concert with EIP Ventures, is in final stage development of a seven dairy, 16,500 head biogas project ear Boise, Idaho. The project is expected to close in late Q1 2021.
Aries Clean Energy, a leader in the biomass gasification solutions sector, announced it has changed its name to Aries Clean Technologies, with a refined focus on the clean conversion of wastewater biosolids.
The USDA and U.S. Department of Energy on Jan. 21 announced appointments to several senior posts, including USDA undersecretary for Rural Development and chief of staff for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at DOE.
The Alternative Fuels & Chemicals Coalition has announced legislation recently signed by President Trump makes important changes to the U.S. Department of Energy's Title XVII Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program.
Ameresco Inc. on Jan. 12 announced that it achieved mechanical completion at its McCarty Road landfill gas to renewable natural gas plant located in Houston, Texas. The project is expected to reach commercial operations in early 2021.
The USDA on Jan. 12 released a report and online dashboard that integrates the information collected by the agency as part of its Agriculture Innovation Agenda, an initiative that aims to help the U.S. agricultural industry meet future demands.
The California Energy Commission on Jan. 14 announced it is awarding nearly $2 million to eight projects through the Tribal Government Challenge Grant Program. A portion of that funding will support biomass and bioenergy projects.
NW Natural, a subsidiary of NW Natural Holding Co., is partnering with BioCarbN, a developer and operator of sustainable infrastructure projects, to convert methane from some of Tyson Foods facilities into renewable natural gas (RNG).
The U.S. EIA on Jan. 12 released is Short-Term Energy Outlook for January, which features the agency's first short-term predictions for 2022. The EIA currently predicts electricity generation from renewables will continue to increase.
Iowa's second renewable natural gas (RNG) plant at Sioux City's Wastewater Treatment Plant is operational thanks to Bartlett & West and DMT Clear Gas Solutions. The project converts 800 SCFM of biogas to RNG for injection in the natural gas pipeline.
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