Biomass Week - February 11, 2011

Wind statistics raise concerns about U.K. renewable policy The North Sea has been called the Saudi Arabia of wind, and the U.K. government has made a strong push for its use. But following the least windy year, by some accounts since 1894, one can't help but wonder how renewable energy goals might shift. READ MORE SHARE
SoCalGas, Escondido demonstrate biogas technology Southern California Gas Co. and the city of Escondido in southern California have begun testing a biogas purification technology at the city's wastewater treatment plant that would allow the gas to be directly injected into a natural gas pipeline. READ MORE SHARE
	Senators to host biomass energy briefing U.S. Sens. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., Max Baucus, D-Mont., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., will host a biomass briefing at the Dirksen Senate Office building on Feb. 17 to discuss opportunities presented by biomass energy. READ MORE SHARE
Montpelier building biomass district energy system Vermont's capital city is installing a 41 MMBtu combined-heat-and-power biomass district energy system that will provide heat to the statehouse and about 175 other downtown buildings, and 1.8 million kilowatt hours of electricity to the grid. READ MORE SHARE
House committee debates effects of GHG regulations Job creation, economic impacts and climate change were discussed during a Feb. 9 U.S. House subcommittee hearing to discuss draft legislation that would amend the Clean Air Act to prevent the U.S. EPA from enforcing GHG emissions regulations. READ MORE SHARE
Alabama sawmill to produce biomass power The Westervelt Co. recently broke ground on a biomass power generating station at its Hale County, Ala., sawmill operation. The project includes installation of a steam turbine to generate 7 megawatts of electricity from bark and sawdust. READ MORE SHARE
Oglethorpe suspends biomass power plant projects Oglethorpe Power recently announced that it is putting its plans to build three 100-megawatt biomass power plants on hold indefinitely due to regulatory uncertainty. Construction was scheduled to begin this year on the first plant in Warren County. READ MORE SHARE
U.K. reviews feed-in tariff program A low rate of anaerobic digestion (AD) development since the implementation of a feed-in tariff (FIT) to boost such projects has prompted the U.K.'s Department of Energy and Climate Change to review the tariff level, considering changes if need be. READ MORE SHARE