Business Briefs

RNG Coalition hires Kapoor
The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas has added Nina Kapoor as manager of legislative and regulatory affairs in Sacramento, California. The addition of Kapoor will further bolster the RNG Coalition's advocacy and education efforts on behalf of the North American RNG industry in California and on the West Coast.

Before joining the RNG Coalition, Kapoor provided strategic planning and public affairs consulting as principal of Kapoor Consulting. Prior to that, she served as vice president of legislative affairs at the California Forestry Association, as well as the California state capitol as a senate fellow and as legislative staff to prominent members of the state Senate and the assembly, including the chair of the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce.

Kapoor holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Economics with Highest Distinction from University of California, San Diego.

Seth Walker joins FutureMetrics
Seth Walker has joined FutureMetrics as senior economist and director of business development. In addition to bringing a fresh analytical perspective, Walker will be developing new reports and products to enhance FutureMetrics' offerings to the wood pellet sector.

Walker has extensive knowledge and experience in the bioenergy and forest products sectors, and global wood pellet markets. Prior to joining FutureMetrics, Walker spent seven years at RISI Inc., most recently as senior bioenergy economist. While at RISI, Walker conducted due diligence, fiber supply, and policy analysis studies for the forest products and bioenergy industries.  He also held roles covering the North American and international timber markets.

Walker holds a Bachelor of Science in Resource Economics and Commerce and a Master of Science in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from the University of Rhode Island.


Stanners appointed BC Bioenergy Network executive director
The BC Bioenergy Network Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Scott Stanners as executive director. Stanners brings almost a decade of experience with BCBN, previously holding roles of director of research, director of business development, technology and innovation, and acting executive director.

Prior to joining BC Bioenergy Network, Stanners held key advisory positions in the biotechnology sector in Canada and Australia with government, private organizations and industry associations. Stanners has a Bachelor of Science from University of Calgary and a Ph.D. and Graduate Certificate in Innovation and Enterprise from The University of Sydney, Australia.

BTEC to begin biomass boiler efficiency validation testing
The Biomass Thermal Energy Council announced that validation testing of its biomass boiler efficiency protocol will begin in September at ClearStak LLC, a Connecticut-based testing laboratory. In late 2016, BTEC released the first draft of an American test method for the thermal efficiency of commercial-sized biomass boilers, including boilers that use pellets, chips, briquettes and cordwood. The test procedure was built upon European standards, past efforts in the U.S. to develop standards for biomass-fired heating equipment, and U.S. standards for oil- and gas-fired boilers.

The test method will facilitate the evaluation of the benefits of properly sized biomass boilers, and closely examine boiler performance at partial load points. Once validation testing is complete, and recommended changes to the test method are considered, the test procedure will be published as a voluntary industry document. BTEC will subsequently pursue formal acceptance of the protocol by an accredited national standards organization. 

The project is supported by the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund, and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.