Pellet Mill Monthly - February 5, 2013

Biomass energy legislation introduced in Okla. Pending legislation in Oklahoma could result in the development of a state plan to utilize woody biomass for heat and power. The bill, HB 1656, is titled the "Oklahoma Woody Biomass Energy Initiative Act of 2013." READ MORE SHARE
Researchers use ionic liquid to pretreat biofuel feedstock mix Research has shown that an ionic liquid proven to be effective for pre-treating individual biofuel feedstocks is also effective at pre-treating multiple different feedstocks that have been mixed and densified into a blend. READ MORE SHARE
	Northern Ireland sets support levels for biomass power Northern Ireland has announced new support levels for biomass and solar under the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation, effective April 1., including an six-month extension of higher support levels for some combined-heat-and-power (CHP) plants. READ MORE SHARE
North American wood pellet exports up 70 percent 3Q 2012 Wood pellet exports in North America were up 70 percent in the third quarter of 2012, compared to the third quarter of 2011, according to a new report by the North American Wood Fiber Review. READ MORE SHARE
Power generation from woody biomass shows upward trend The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released its latest Monthly Energy Review, which includes biomass power generation statistics through Oct. 2012. The report shows the use of woody biomass increased over the first 10 months of the year. READ MORE SHARE
BTEC board of directors elects new executive officers The Biomass Thermal Energy Council has announced its newly elected executive officers for the 2013 board of directors. The election marks the departure of Charlie Niebling, New England Wood Pellet's general manager, as BTEC Chairman. READ MORE SHARE
UK Energy and Utilities Alliance launches Biomass Heating Group The Energy and Utilities Alliance has launched the Biomass Heating Group. The group, led by the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council and the Industrial and Commercial Energy Association, will be mutually beneficial to its members and the government. READ MORE SHARE
Ag Energy Coalition calls for Farm Bill Energy Title funding The Agriculture Energy Coalition has urged Congress to begin work on a new five-year Farm Bill with strong mandatory funding for energy programs. The fiscal cliff bill extended the Farm Bill, but without funding for Energy Title programs. READ MORE SHARE
Sustainable energy, climate change included in inaugural address President Barack Obama has officially kicked off the second term of his presidency. During his inaugural address on Jan. 21, Obama touched on several topics, including the economic recovery and sustainable energy. READ MORE SHARE
Report shows 100 biomass power projects came online in 2012 The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Office of Energy Projects has released its latest Energy Infrastructure Update, which includes data through Dec. 2012. The update includes statistics on a variety of energy types, including biomass. READ MORE SHARE
IRENA report finds cost reduction potential for biomass power The International Renewable Energy Agency has published a report that provides a comprehensive analysis of the costs and performance of various renewable power technologies that are currently available. It addresses several biomass technologies. READ MORE SHARE
EIA: Large mergers drive ownership change of power plants Electric power companies add physical capacity to their fleets in two primary ways: building new generators or buying existing generators. Natural gas and renewable units comprise a majority of the generating capacity bought or sold since 2005. READ MORE SHARE
Viaspace Giant King Grass growing in Hawaii While Giant King Grass was previously released from quarantine by the USDA for distribution in the U.S., Hawaii has additional plant import rules, and the crop is being grown in a facility under the purview of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. READ MORE SHARE
Vilsack announces he will remain Agriculture Secretary "As we look ahead to a promising future in our small towns and rural communities, I am pleased to continue working alongside President Obama to grow more opportunity in rural America," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. READ MORE SHARE
FutureMetrics: low-cost natural gas beneficial to wood to energy Wood-to-energy will significantly benefit from the low-cost natural gas, according to a new white paper released from FutureMetrics Inc., including European wood pellet export operations and the domestic wood pellet boiler sector. READ MORE SHARE
UK funds wetland biomass, bioenergy projects Seven recipients have each been awarded GBP292,000 ($469,000) by the United Kingdom Department of Energy & Climate Change as part of a program focused on funding projects that utilize wetland biomass for energy. READ MORE SHARE
Research show perennial biofuel crops reduce nitrogen loss In a four-year University of Illinois study that compared miscanthus, switchgrass, and mixed prairie species to typical corn-corn-soybean rotations, each of the perennial crops were highly efficient at reducing nitrogen losses. READ MORE SHARE
2013 International Biomass Conference & Expo agenda announced BBI International announced this week the preliminary agenda for the 6th annual International Biomass Conference & Expo. The 2013 agenda, featuring four comprehensive tracks, is tightly focused on leading edge developments in the biomass industry. READ MORE SHARE
Benelux pellet market expected to more than double by 2020 The U.S. is expected to the main supplier of wood pellets in the Benelux market in northwestern Europe this year. The U.S. exported an estimated 1.25 million metric tons of wood pellets worth $225 million to the region in 2012. READ MORE SHARE
LC Energy acquires Harvest Wood Fuels bulk pellet business LC Energy, one of England's leading specialists in sustainable wood fuel supply, has announced its acquisition of Harvest Wood Fuels bulk pellet business, a top supplier of high grade wood pellets based in Tilford, Surrey, England. READ MORE SHARE
EIA predicts increased use of wood in power, home heating sectors The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the January issue of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, which is the first to include forecasts for 2014. The report includes forecasts for biomass power production and for home heating with wood. READ MORE SHARE
China offers subsidies for additional biomass power projects A notice posted to the China Internet Information Center states that the country has increased the number of renewable power projects that qualify for state subsidies under a tariff surcharge program, including several biomass projects. READ MORE SHARE
Pellet Fuels Institute earns fiscal cliff win The Pellet Fuels Institute held a December 2012 fly-in trip to Washington, D.C., to fight for a biomass heating tax incentive, and those efforts have paid off. Included in the fiscal cliff tax deal was the stove tax credit. READ MORE SHARE
Germany helps Ukraine develop biofuel projects Germany intends to assist Ukraine in establishing its own biofuel production in 2013. The statement was made by the representative of the German Federal Ministry of Environment Jurgen Keinhorst at the joint Ukraine-Germany council. READ MORE SHARE