Biomass Week - February 15, 2013

Green Dot Holdings acquires MGP Ingredients' bioplastics division Cottonwood Falls, Kan.-based Green Dot Holdings LLC has acquired the bioplastics division of Atchison, Kan.-based MGP Ingredients Inc. The acquisition includes a manufacturing facility, certain equipment, and the Terratek line of bioplastics. READ MORE SHARE
Canadian government invests in biofuel initiatives The Canadian government has announced investments in two projects that will benefit the biofuel and biorefining industries, including one to expand the use of beets as feedstock, and one to install pilot-scale short path distillation equipment. READ MORE SHARE
	Advanced biofuel groups respond to API's latest RFS attacks The American Petroleum Institute is once again misleading Congress and the general public about the renewable fuel standard (RFS); this time, as it pertains to a January 2012 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. READ MORE SHARE
India-based biogas plant celebrates grand opening After the successful start-up phase of the biogas plant in Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, India, in mid-December 2012, a grand openingtook place on Jan. 26, 2013. The facility is now also officially connected to the national power grid. READ MORE SHARE
Wash. state bill would extend tax exemptions for woody biomass Legislation pending in the Washington State Legislature aims to extend the existing sales and use tax exemption for wood waste and residue used to produce electricity, steam, heat or biofuel through June 30, 2024. READ MORE SHARE
The FFA and Spain to cooperate on alternative aviation fuels The Federal Aviation Administration and the Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency signed a Declaration of Cooperation to promote the development and use of sustainable alternative aviation fuels in the United States and Spain. READ MORE SHARE
EIA predicts slight increase in biomass power production The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the February 2013 issue of its Short-Term Energy Outlook. In 2013, power from wood biomass is expected to increase to an average of 106,000 MWh per day, and 110,000 MWh per day in 2014. READ MORE SHARE
Northern Maine Medical Center showcases new biomass boiler More than 100 people attended an open house at Northern Maine Medical Center on Feb. 11 to view the hospital's new biomass-fueled boiler system. The Chiptec furnace, which came online in December, will save the hospital roughly $200,000 a year. READ MORE SHARE
Los Alamos scientists develop new approach for biofuel production Scientists made a major step forward recently towards transforming biomass-derived molecules into fuels. The team elucidated the chemical mechanism of the critical steps, which can be performed under relatively mild, energy-efficient conditions. READ MORE SHARE
Metso announces Russian CHP project, releases 2012 financials On Feb. 12, Finland-based Metso has announced it will supply a biomass-fired combined-heat-and-power (CHP) plant to Bioenergeticheskaya Kompaniya LLC. The 4 MW plant is scheduled to be operational in 2014. READ MORE SHARE
Lignol makes progress in cellulosic ethanol, lignin development Lignol Innovations Ltd. has landed a commercial supply agreement with a European thermoplastics producer. The subsidiary of Lignol Energy Corp. had previously delivered samples of its trademarked HP-LTM lignin for evaluation and product trials. READ MORE SHARE
Obama stresses importance of clean energy in State of the Union Energy and climate change were two areas of focus in President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Feb. 12. "Today, no area holds more promise than our investments in American energy," he said. READ MORE SHARE
EPA recognizes La. waste disposal district for biogas project The U.S. EPA 2012 Landfill Methane Outreach Program awarded St. Landry Solid Waste Disposal District the Project of the Year Award for using compressed natural gas (CNG) to power 13 vehicles for the sheriff's department in St. Landry Parish, La. READ MORE SHARE
German researchers extract hydrogen from wet biomass German researchers are developing a process to extract hydrogen from wet biomass using aqueous phase reforming. In this method, the wet biomass comes into contact with a catalyst, and chemical reactions break down the material to release hydrogen. READ MORE SHARE
USDA outlines climate change impacts on agriculture, forestry The USDA has released two reports that outline the impact of climate change on agriculture and forestry. The reports provide a framework for understanding how climate change could affect the ability to meet demands for food, feed, fiber and fuel. READ MORE SHARE
New organization supports advanced biofuel deployment in the EU A new initiative in Europe, Leaders of Sustainable Biofuels, aims to expedite deployment of advanced biofuel technologies. In February, chief executive officers of seven European biofuel producers and airlines met in Brussels form the group. READ MORE SHARE
Construction begins on pellet-fueled cogeneration plant in France NEREA, a subsidiary of Akuo Energy, has begun construction of a 13 MW biomass cogeneration facility in Estrees-Mons, in the Somme department of France. SABEHF, a subsidiary of NEREA, will supply the facility with wood pellets. READ MORE SHARE