Biomass Week - February 8, 2023

USDA: US wood pellet exports at 8.89 million metric tons in 2022 U.S. wood pellet exports reached 917,175.4 metric tons in December, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on Feb. 7. Exports for the full year 2022 reached 8.98 million metric tons. READ MORE SHARE
Marathon starts up phase 1 of Martinez conversion project Marathon Petroleum has announced that the first phase of its renewable diesel conversion project at its Martinez refinery in California has commenced startup activities and is on track to be operating at full nameplate capacity by the end of Q1. READ MORE SHARE
	Diamond Green Diesel approves SAF project in Texas Darling Ingredients Inc. and Valero Energy Corp., on Jan. 31 announced that the companies have made the final investment decision on a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project at the Diamond Green Diesel (DGD) Port Arthur plant in Texas. READ MORE SHARE
Illinois governor signs bill establishing SAF tax credit Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Feb. 3 signed the Invest in Illinois Act. The legislative package, in part, creates a $1.50 per gallon sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) purchase tax credit to support the supply and use of SAF within the state. READ MORE SHARE
Minnesota bill updates RPS, creates carbon-free mandate Minnesota lawmakers have approved a bill that aims to implement two new mandates for the state’s electric utilities—a renewable electricity standard and a carbon-free electricity standard. The bill names biomass energy as an eligible technology. READ MORE SHARE
CHAR completes first phase of Canadian biocoal, RNG project CHAR Technologies Ltd. has completed Phase 1 of the Thorold Renewable Natural Gas & Biocoal project with the initial production of biocoal. The company is now focusing on Phase 2, which will boost produciton capacity. READ MORE SHARE
North Carolina DEQ issues modified air quality permit to Enviva The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) has issued a modified air quality permit to Enviva Pellets LLC – Ahoskie Plant. The permit requires the facility to install new air pollution control devices. READ MORE SHARE
Quebec community to be powered by biomass cogeneration plant Hydro Quebec has announced an agreement to build a forest biomass cogeneration plant that will supply energy to Opitciwan, an Indigenous community in Quebec. The 4.8 MW facility is scheduled to begin commissioning in July 2026. READ MORE SHARE
EIA: US renewable diesel capacity could more than double by 2025 U.S. production capacity for renewable diesel could more than double from current levels by the end of 2025, based on several announcements for projects that are either under construction or could start development soon. READ MORE SHARE
Origin reports mechanical completion of Ontario facility Origin Materials Inc. on Jan. 27 announced the mechanical completion of Origin 1, a commercial-scale sustainable materials production facility located in Sarnia, Ontario. The company also recently announced progress with financing for Origin 2. READ MORE SHARE
Northern Biogas acquires 3 additional dairy RNG projects H.I.G. Capital has announced that its portfolio company, Northern Biogas LLC, has acquired three additional dairy renewable natural gas (RNG) projects, significantly expanding its RNG production capacity. READ MORE SHARE
Axens, Praj sign MOU for SAF projects in India Axens and Praj have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work jointly on projects in India for production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from low carbon alcohols through alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) pathway. READ MORE SHARE