Biomass Week - July 12, 2023

USDA expands crop insurance for camelina The USDA’s Risk Management Agency on June 30 announced it will expand crop insurance for camelina in direct response to the anticipated increase in demand for the crop for biofuel production. The expansion provides additional grower certainty. READ MORE SHARE
DOE: Biofuel, bioenergy employment up in 2022 U.S. firms working with clean energy fuels, such as corn ethanol, woody biomass/cellulosic biofuel, and other biofuels, added 1,962 jobs in 2022. Bioenergy electric power generation (EPG) jobs were also up. READ MORE SHARE
	Bunge, Chevron acquire Argentina seed business Chacraservicios Bunge and Chevron’s Renewable Energy Group Inc., a subsidiary of Chevron Corp., have acquired Argentina-based Chacraservicios S.r.l. Chacraservicios is focused on the cultivation of camelina sativa, which can be used to produce biofuels. READ MORE SHARE
Casella Waste Systems, Waga Energy partner on 3 RNG projects Casella Waste Systems Inc. and Waga Energy announced the signing of a commercial agreement on July 10 to develop renewable natural gas facilities at three Casella landfills. Commercial operations are expected to begin in approximately 24 months. READ MORE SHARE
DOE funding supports CCUS project at renewable diesel plant The U.S. DOE on July 10 awarded a $2.5 million grant to the University of North Dakota’s Energy & Environmental Research Center to help advance a CCUS project at Marathon Petroleum Corp.’s renewable diesel plant in Dickinson, North Dakota. READ MORE SHARE
USDA: US wood pellet exports up in May The U.S. exported 820,057.5 metric tons of wood pellets in May, up from both 720,209.2 metric tons exported in April and 740,605 metric tons exported in May 2022, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on July 6. READ MORE SHARE
Enbridge receives regulatory approval for RNG project Enbridge Gas Inc. has recieved approval to construct the Ridge Landfill RNG Project in Chatham-Kent, Ontario. Construction on a 5.7 kilometer pipeline and its related facilities is scheduled to begin in July. READ MORE SHARE
EIA: US biofuel capacity, feedstock consumption up in April Total operable biofuels production capacity in the U.S. expanded in April, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on June 30. Feedstock consumption was up when compared to the same month of last year. READ MORE SHARE
USDA awards aim to increase domestic fertilizer production The USDA on June 23 awarded $30 million to seven projects under its Fertilizer Production Expansion Program and is inviting public comments on 66 additional projects eligible to receive program funding, including AD and biochar projects. READ MORE SHARE
bp invests $10 million in bio-methanol producer WasteFuel bp ventures has committed $10 million in WasteFuel, a California-based biofuels company that will use proven, scalable technologies to convert biobased municipal and agricultural waste into lower carbon fuels, such as bio-methanol. READ MORE SHARE
USDA: Soybean planted area down 5%, stocks down 18% The USDA’ on June 30 announced that an estimated 83.5 million acres of soybeans have been planted in the U.S. for 2023, down 5 percent when compared to 2022. Soybean harvested area for 2023 is estimated at 82.7 million acres, down 4 percent. READ MORE SHARE
Anaergia affiliate Kent County Bioenergy Facility awarded $5M Kent County Bioenergy Facility, LLC, a subsidiary of Anaergia Inc., has been awarded a $5 million grant from the Michigan Public Service Commission in support of developing the Kent County Bioenergy Facility. READ MORE SHARE