Pellet Mill Monthly - November 6, 2012

Biomass Magazine releases new online biomass industry directory Powered by Biomass Magazine, BBI International announced that it has released a new online biomass directory available to companies interested in connecting with the biomass industry. All companies are eligible for one free listing. READ MORE SHARE
BTEC unveils biomass recognition program The Biomass Thermal Energy Council has unveiled a recognition program for home and business heating systems using biomass in place of fossil fuels like heating oil. The Biomass Green Heat Registered Site plaque helps makes these systems visible. READ MORE SHARE
	Researchers propose method to estimate forest biomass cover A research paper published in the open access journal Carbon Balance and Management employs satellite data to create a method to generate sample-based inventory of forest biomass. The study uses light detection and ranging (LIDAR) height data. READ MORE SHARE
Profiling Team Romney: Charles Conner Charles Conner's extensive background in agriculture includes several years in the USDA as deputy secretary of agriculture as well as serving as acting secretary of agriculture from August 2007 to January 2008, when Ed Schafer took on the job. READ MORE SHARE
Report: biomass CHP has potential in New Brunswick New Brunswick's forest biomass resources have good potential for the cogeneration of heat and power in industrial-sized, forest biomass-fired combined-heat-and-power (CHP) plants, according to a new report. READ MORE SHARE
Pellet producers group first to start standards program A new era in the wood pellets industry is about to begin thanks to three pellet fuel producers in the U.S. that will begin a standards program designed to verify quality. READ MORE SHARE
Profiling Team Romney: US Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's short list of possible energy secretaries includes Tea Party-backed U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, former House energy committee chairman. READ MORE SHARE
World Bioenergy Association issues small-scale biomass heat facts As part of a campaign to highlight key developments across the entire bioenergy industry, the World Bioenergy Association has released a fact sheet focused on small-scale biomass heating. READ MORE SHARE
Profiling Team Romney: Continental Resources' Harold Hamm Harold Hamm, a.k.a. "America's Oil Man," is chairman of Romney's energy policy advisory team and likely his first runner-up choice for energy secretary after American Petroleum Institute President Jack Gerard. READ MORE SHARE
REAP grants include money for biomass projects A total of $16 million in investment for 244 projects received funding from the USDA's Rural Energy for America Program, including several blender pumps and a few biomass-related projects. READ MORE SHARE
Profiling Team Romney: American Petroleum Institute's Jack Gerard Jack Gerard is the current president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, but if presidential candidate Mitt Romney wins the 2012 election, he could become Romney's chief of staff or secretary of energy at the U.S. DOE. READ MORE SHARE
Profiling Team Romney: Fla. Ag Commissioner Adam Putnam Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam is the national chairman of the Farmers and Ranchers for Romney coalition and co-chair of the Romney/Ryan agricultural advisory committee. He has also served in the Florida House and U.S. House. READ MORE SHARE
EIA: More households heating with woody biomass this winter The U.S Energy Information Administration has released its Short-Term Energy and Winter Fuels Outlook, which includes data related to woody biomass used for heating. Approximately 1.6 million U.S. homes are expected to heat with wood this winter. READ MORE SHARE
UCS: 680 million tons of U.S. biomass available by 2030 The Union of Concerned Scientists has published a report that shows that biomass feedstock has the potential to dramatically increase our nation's renewable energy supply. The report is titled "The Promise of Biomass." READ MORE SHARE
USDA approves Viaspace's Giant King Grass in U.S. Viaspace Inc. has announced that its proprietary, high-yield, dedicated energy crop Giant King Grass has been released from quarantine by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for distribution in the U.S. READ MORE SHARE
Report questions value of Maine RPS, governor agrees The Maine Heritage Policy Center, a conservative think tank, and the Beacon Hill Institute for Public Policy Research recently published a report disputing the benefits of Maine's renewable portfolio standard (RPS). READ MORE SHARE
U.S. Coast Guard investigates boiler explosion Coast Guard Air Station Sitka personnel and local authorities are investigating a boiler incident Wednesday in the air station's main hangar. One civilian contractor was injured during the incident and was transported by local EMS to the hospital. READ MORE SHARE
Michigan residents to vote on RPS ballot measure On Nov. 6 residents of Michigan will vote on a proposal to amend the state constitution to establish a new renewable portfolio standard (RPS), requiring 25 percent renewable energy by 2025. The state already requires 10 percent renewables by 2015. READ MORE SHARE
Portland General Electric issues RFP for renewable power Portland General Electric Co. is seeking power generating resources to help it comply with Oregon's renewable energy standard. The company recently issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking approximately 100 MW of renewable power. READ MORE SHARE
White paper outlines Romney agriculture policy, addresses RFS Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney released a white paper on his agriculture policy this week. Within the document, Romney announced his support for the renewable fuel standard (RFS), but didn't mention the Farm Bill Energy Title. READ MORE SHARE
Report: U.S. surpassed Canada in wood pellet exports A Wood Resources International report says the U.S. pulled ahead of Canada for wood pellet exports during the first half of 2012. Canada was previously the world leader of pellet exports, but the U.S. South has significantly expanded production. READ MORE SHARE
Paper examines thermal RECs in state RPSs A new paper released by FutureMetrics LLC examines the impacts of adding full thermal renewable energy credits to state renewable portfolio standards (RPS). The paper is based off of New Hampshire's recent legislation. READ MORE SHARE