Biomass Week - September 13, 2013

Advanced biofuel industry leaders: now is the time to unite Industry leaders at the National Advanced Biofuel Conference & Expo had an adamant, clear-cut message for attendees: if there was ever a time to unite and work together as one force, that time is now. READ MORE SHARE
Seminar focuses on corn stover as a biofuel feedstock As a precursor to the National Advanced Biofuel Conference and Expo in Omaha, Neb., Sept. 10-12, the Corn Stover Harvest & Transport Seminar hashed over technological, logistical and environmental issues of using corn stover as an advanced biofuel. READ MORE SHARE
	Cellulosic leaders talk feedstock procurement at Neb. event In front of an attentive crowd at the 2013 National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo in Omaha, Neb., representatives from Abengoa Bioenergy S.A., Poet-DSM Advanced Biofuels LLC and Ineos Bio presented updates on their cellulosic ethanol projects. READ MORE SHARE
USDA announces initiative to expand U.S. wood-to-energy efforts The USDA has announced a partnership agreement with biomass trade groups that focuses on promoting wood energy nationwide as a means to address fire risk, bolster rural economic development, improve air quality and help meet renewable energy goals. READ MORE SHARE
European Parliament votes to cap crop-based biofuels The European Parliament has voted on draft legislation, calling for a cap on first-generation biofuels and a swift transition second-generation renewable fuels. The series of tight votes is expected to prolong instability in European biofuels policy. READ MORE SHARE
USDA announces payments to pellet, biogas producers The USDA has announced payments to biofuel producers under the Advanced Biofuel Payment Program. USDA Rural Development Acting Under Secretary Doug O'Brien made the announcement Sept. 12 at the National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo. READ MORE SHARE
Pascrell introduces bill to establish tax credit for biochemicals Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-N.J., has introduced legislation to establish a production tax credit for qualified renewable chemical production. The bill, is titled the "Qualifying Renewable Production Tax Credit of 2013," or H.R. 3084. READ MORE SHARE
USDA officials tour Novozymes' enzyme facility in Blair, Neb. Doug O'Brien, USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development, visited Novozymes' enzyme manufacturing facility in Blair, Neb., on Sept. 12. O'Brien went on the tour following his keynote address at the National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo. READ MORE SHARE
Covanta announces contract extension agreement with Marion County Covanta Marion Inc., a subsidiary of Covanta Energy Corp., and Marion County, Oregon have announced an agreement that extends sustainable waste disposal services for the county at the Covanta Marion Energy-from-Waste (EfW) facility. READ MORE SHARE
Giant pandas contribute to biofuels research Unlikely as it may sound, giant pandas Ya Ya and Le Le in the Memphis Zoo are making contributions toward shifting production of biofuels away from corn and other food crops and toward corn cobs, stalks and other non-food plant material. READ MORE SHARE
EIA STEO updates wood, waste biomass consumption estimates The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the September issue of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, which includes updated forecasts for generation of electricity from wood biomass and waste biomass fuel sources. READ MORE SHARE
NOVEC biomass plant successfully generates electricity in test Northern Virginia Electric Co-op and NOVI Energy announce that the NOVEC Energy Production, Halifax County Biomass plant that the two companies have been working on together near South Boston, Va., generated its first electricity on Sept. 11. READ MORE SHARE
EDF renewable energy acquires Heartland Biogas project EDF Renewable Energy has announced it has closed on the membership interest purchase agreement to acquire the Heartland Biogas Project with Heartland Renewable Energy LLC. Construction is underway on the 20 megawatt facility. READ MORE SHARE
Wash. DNR offers training for biomass calculator tool The Washington State Department of Natural Resources has announced it will hold four technical workshops on how to use the web-based Washington State Biomass Calculator in October. The workshops are open to the public. READ MORE SHARE
Project Liberty data shows viability of biomass harvesting Harvesting crop residue for cellulosic ethanol production is consistent with good farm management, according to the latest data from researchers with Iowa State University and USDA. The work was commissioned by Poet-DSM Advanced Biofuels. READ MORE SHARE
Weltec Biopower develops 4 biogas plants in France Together with the partner Domaix Energie in Alsace, Germany-based Weltec Biopower GmbH has started rolling out four agricultural biogas plant projects in France, including two 600 kilowatt (kW) plants, one 190 kW plant and a 255 kW facility. READ MORE SHARE
Cool Planet names lead engineering form for Louisiana plant Cool Planet Energy Systems has announced the selection of URS Corp. as the front-end engineering and design contractor for Cool Planet's first commercial facility. URS will work to design the cellulosic gasoline plant, located in Louisiana. READ MORE SHARE
USDA announces bioenergy partnership, wood energy grants Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced a partnership agreement with the Alliance for Green Heat, the Biomass Power Association, the Biomass Thermal Energy Council, and the Pellet Fuel Institute to expand wood energy use. READ MORE SHARE
Marine biofuel plant planned for development in Denmark The Denmark-based Port of Frederikshavn, Canadian biofuel company Steeper Energy, and Denmark-based Aalborg University have announced a partnership to develop a biofuel plant that will produce sulphur-free, drop-in marine fuel from wood feedstock. READ MORE SHARE
Stobart announces feedstock agreement with Greensphere Capital The board of Stobart is pleased to announce that Stobart Biomass Products Ltd. has entered into an exclusive master framework agreement with Greensphere Capital LLP for the supply of up to 1 million metric tons of biomass fuel per year. READ MORE SHARE
E2 report shows Q2 gain in biomass energy jobs Nonprofit business group Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) has released a report that illustrates clean energy jobs in the second quarter of 2013 were up slightly when compared to the same period of last year. READ MORE SHARE
SUNY celebrates opening of pellet-fueled gasifier, boiler The combined-heat-and-power system (CHP) housed within the State University of New York's College of Environmental Science and Forestry's Gateway Center uses biomass pellets and natural gas to provide the campus with heat and power. READ MORE SHARE