Biomass Week - December 21, 2012

U.S. House passes NDAA Late Dec. 20, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the $633 billion National Defense Authorization Act for 2013 in a 315-107 vote. The version must now be approved by the Senate. READ MORE SHARE
EPA Finalizes Clean Air Standards for Industrial Boilers The U.S. EPA has finalized changes to Clean Air Act standards for boilers and certain incinerators, which it reported will lessen particle control requirements for biomass units and lower compliance costs. READ MORE SHARE
	Lux Research 2012, 2013 top-10 lists feature biorefiners Lux Research has published top-10 lists of 2012's top emerging technology companies, as well as emerging companies to watch in 2013. Biorefining companies, including Solazyme, Itaconix and Beta Renewables, top this year's lists READ MORE SHARE
BTEC names Shaheen 2012 Biomass Thermal Champion The Biomass Thermal Energy Council has named its Biomass Thermal Champion of 2012, and the award goes to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., for her leadership on advocating for the inclusion and parity of biomass thermal energy in federal programs. READ MORE SHARE
Plasco Energy Group secures MSW feedstock agreement with Ottawa The City of Ottawa has signed an agreement with Plasco Energy Group Inc. to supply 109,500 metric tons of municipal solid waste per year to the company for use in a waste conversion facility. Plasco will begin construction on the facility in 2013. READ MORE SHARE
NREL releases gasification technology review Under contract with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Harris Group has completed a comprehensive review of biomass gasifier technologies, titled "Biomass Gasification Technology Assessment." READ MORE SHARE
Senate, House Armed Services Committees finalize NDAA of 2013 The fiscal year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act is one step closer to becoming law. The Armed Services Committees of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate announced completion of conference reports for the legislation Dec. 18. READ MORE SHARE
U.K. places non-legislative cap on biomass power under the RO The U.K. Department of Energy & Climate Change has announced a 400 MW non-legislative cap on the total new build dedicated biomass generating capacity that can expect to be supported at 1.5 Renewable Obligation Certificates per MWh. READ MORE SHARE
API lawsuit on 2011 cellulosic RFS volumes dismissed by court On Dec. 17, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit dismissed a lawsuit filed by the American Petroleum Institute against the U.S. EPA challenging the 2011 cellulosic requirements of renewable fuels standard. READ MORE SHARE
Ore. energy plan calls for shift in biomass investment approach Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber believes energy is the issue of our time, and to address the issue, he has released a 10-year Energy Action Plan. The 48-page plan includes a recommendation section on bioenergy and biomass-based thermal energy development. READ MORE SHARE
Proposed Calif. plant earns positive health impact assessment The Sequoia Foundation has released an independent health impact assessment (HIA) for the proposed 2 MW Cabin Creek Biomass Energy Facility near Lake Tahoe, Calif. The county will consider the plant's minor use permit on Dec. 20. READ MORE SHARE
Investments move Proterro sucrose pilot project forward With new funding in hand, Proterro Inc. is poised to take its sucrose-producing process to the pilot stage, using full scale-bioreactors. The company expects the process can produce fermentation-ready sugar at a cost of less than 5 cents per pound. READ MORE SHARE
Drax Biomass announces pellet projects, port facility Drax Biomass International Inc. a development and operating company focused on manufacturing wood pellets for renewable, low-carbon power generation from sustainable biomass, has announced its plans for three projects in the Gulf region. READ MORE SHARE