Pellet Mill Monthly - December 4, 2012

World Energy Council ranks U.S. No. 12 in energy sustainability The World Energy Council recently published its Energy Sustainability Index, which shows that most countries are still far from achieving fully sustainable energy systems. The U.S. ranked 27 in energy security, and 12 overall. READ MORE SHARE
Ontario sawmill to build pellet plant Resolute Forest Products has announced plans to build a $10 million wood pellet plant at its sawmill in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The company has secured a 10-year agreement with Ontario Power Generation to supply 45,000 metric tons of pellets annually. READ MORE SHARE
	Canadian pellet producer reports improved margins Viridis Energy Inc. recently released its third quarter financial results, reporting a gross profit of $367,000 for the three months ended Sept. 30, a significant improvement over the gross profit of $186,000 reported the preceding quarter. READ MORE SHARE
Colo. stewardship contracts to produce biomass for pellets, power The U.S. Forest Service has announced two stewardship contracts worth a combined $13.4 million to improve the health of subalpine and mountain forests affected by mountain pine beetle in the Medicine Bow-Routt and White River national forests. READ MORE SHARE
European, Indian governments team for biomass initiative The European Commission and Indian government have partnered for a research and development initiative that will focus on finding solutions for existing challenges and needs in biotechnological research activities involving biomass production. READ MORE SHARE
Minn. pellet plant equipment to be sold at auction The former Deer River, Minn.-based BioPellet Plant will liquidate its assets at auction on Nov. 29. The plant equipment is capable of producing 80 tons of wood pellets per day. Maas Companies Inc. will handle the auction. READ MORE SHARE
USDA announces payments to pellet, biogas producers On Nov. 16 the USDA announced more than $15.7 million in payments to 189 companies under USDA Rural Development's Advanced Biofuel Payment Program, which provides payments to support the production and expansion of advanced biofuels. READ MORE SHARE
REA responds to anti-biomass power report The Renewable Energy Association has responded to a report published by RSPB, Friends of the Earth, and Greenpeace that claims biomass power is more polluting than coal-fired power. The REA response points out flaws in the carbon accounting method. READ MORE SHARE
Enviva's borrowing announcement shows banking industry confidence Enviva LP has announced it closed on a $120 million senior secured credit facility that will help complete the construction of two 500,000 metric ton pellet mills, and expand the company's deep-water port terminal in Virginia to 100,000 metric tons. READ MORE SHARE
ACORE webinar features biofuel policy update The American Council on Renewable Energy hosted a webinar on Nov. 14 focused on biofuel policy. The seminar, titled "Beyond the Talking Points: The Truth About Biofuels," addressed many issues, including tax credits and the renewable fuel standard. READ MORE SHARE
Ag Energy Coalition joins groups calling for Farm Bill passage The Agriculture Energy Coalition has joined 235 farming, livestock, rural development, nutrition, conservation and renewable energy organizations in sending a letter to Congress, asking for the passage of a new, five-year Farm Bill. READ MORE SHARE
Report: Europe to remain biomass power leader A new report by ecoprog GmbH says that while China, India and the U.S. will experience the most biomass power growth over the next five years, Europe will continue to possess the largest market and higher investments due to stricter standards. READ MORE SHARE
IEA Energy Outlook: Global energy map is changing The International Energy Agency has released a report that shows the global energy map is changing significantly. By 2020, IEA's, "World Energy Outlook 2012," indicates, that the U.S. will become the largest oil producer in the world. READ MORE SHARE
USDA grant supports expansion of biomass heating market The Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University was recently awarded a grant from the USDA Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program to support research to expand the U.S. biomass home heating market. READ MORE SHARE
Biomass, biofuels industries react to election results Barack Obama has been elected to a second term as president of the U.S., prompting optimistic reactions from biomass and biofuels industries, even with the divided status of Congress remaining unchanged. READ MORE SHARE
Report: High potential for power plant conversion, cofiring in UK U.K.-based business advisory firm Deloitte LLP has published an analysis that determines the biomass industry could contribute more than the 21 percent renewable energy by 2020 projected by the U.K. government. READ MORE SHARE
Scientists propose new ILUC analysis method A recent research paper proposes the use of a new method to calculate land use change, referred to as baseline time accounting. The paper was authored by Jesper Kloverpris of Novozymes and Steffen Mueller from the University of Illinois, Chicago. READ MORE SHARE