Biomass Week - September 27, 2013

2012 census shows wood heating continues growth streak According to recently released U.S. Census statistics, 63,566 more families used wood or pellets as a primary heating fuel in 2012 compared to 2011, which amounts to an increase of 2.6 percent, making wood the fastest growing heating fuel in the U.S. READ MORE SHARE
EPA expands definition of heating oil under RFS The U.S. EPA has published a final rule to expand the definition of heating oil under the renewable fuel standard (RFS) to include heavier biobased fuels oils used to heat homes and buildings. The rule also establishes new reporting requirements. READ MORE SHARE
	Report: Electricity from wood pellets yields quick carbon savings A new report says wood pellets imported to Europe from the Southeast U.S. and British Columbia, Canada, for electricity production have immediate or very rapid contribution to climate change mitigation. READ MORE SHARE
Biofuels, biomass projects among latest round of REAP funding Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced funding for projects in 22 states to help reduce energy consumption and cost as well as for increasing the use of renewable technologies, including a handful of biofuels- and biomass-related projects. READ MORE SHARE
Federal government funds biomass projects through IMCP program The U.S. Department of Commerce, the USDA, the U.S. EPA and the Small Business Administration have announced the first round of funding under the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership program. READ MORE SHARE
RusForest secures financing for wood pellet project in Russia RusForest AB, a Swedish forestry company with operations in Russia, has secured bank financing from CentroCredit for a 100,000-ton-per-year wood pellet plant under construction in Arkhangelsk, Russia. READ MORE SHARE
KiOR to double production capacity at Mississippi plant KiOR Inc. has announced that it is pursuing plans to double production capacity at its Columbus, Miss., cellulosic fuels facility through construction of a second facility incorporating KiOR's commercially proven technology. READ MORE SHARE
EPA honors biomass projects with Green Power Leadership Awards The U.S. EPA has announced the recipients of its 13th annual Green Power Leadership Awards. The agency has recognized 21 Green Power Partners and three suppliers this year for their achievements in advancing the nation's renewable energy market. READ MORE SHARE
Concord Energy, Cool Planet to establish joint venture Concord Energy has announced that it has signed an agreement with Cool Planet Energy Systems to establish a joint venture in the Asia Pacific Region to develop commercial biorefineries to produce fuels and biochar. READ MORE SHARE
ABO advocates for CCR in EPA carbon reduction rulemaking The Algae Biomass Organization has spoken out to encourage the U.S. EPA to include carbon capture and reuse (CCR) as an approved strategy for compliance under its proposed rulemaking to establish carbon pollution standards for new power plants. READ MORE SHARE
EIA data shows electricity from wood fuels up slightly in 2013 Data published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicates the U.S. generated 21,670 gigawatt hours (GWh) of power from wood and wood-derived fuels across all electrical generation sectors during the first seven months of 2013. READ MORE SHARE
Biomass energy takes share of $7 billion in U.S. Army contracts Out of 52 bids submitted for a share of $7 billion in energy contracts offered by the U.S. Army for biomass energy projects, 13 companies have been selected. Facilities will be developed by the private sector under Department of Defense jurisdiction. READ MORE SHARE
EPA publishes RIN data for August The U.S. EPA has published renewable fuels standard (RFS) compliance data for August, reporting that more than nearly 2.89 billion renewable identification numbers (RINs) were generated during the month. READ MORE SHARE
Feedstock agreement signed for proposed Irish bioenergy plant Ireland-based Biotricity Ltd. recently announced it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Irish Farmers' Association to supply straw feedstock to its proposed 16 megawatt (MW) plant in Rhode, County Offaly, Ireland. READ MORE SHARE
USDA offers additional sugar to bioenergy producers under FFP The USDA's Farm Service Agency has made a second solicitation under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for Bioenergy Producers. Approximately 830 million pounds of sugar are being offered for sale under the program. Bids are due Sept. 26. READ MORE SHARE
Cereplast reports progress with algae-derived bioplastics Cereplast Inc. has announced advancements in research and development to bring a sustainable and cost effective process to produce algae bioplastic resins to the market. The company has developed four demonstration grades of algae polypropylene. READ MORE SHARE
CleanWorld breaks ground on Calif. anaerobic digestion facility CleanWorld recently announced that it has begun construction on the UC Davis Renewable Energy Anaerobic Digester (UC Davis READ) facility located at the former UC Davis landfill in Davis, Calif. The facility is expected to be operational in December. READ MORE SHARE
Report finds biofuels offer economic means to meet GHG goals U.K.-based Element Energy recently published a report finding that biofuels offer a more cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next 17 years, when compared to electric vehicles. The report was commissioned by BP. READ MORE SHARE
First look at sorghum genome may usher in new uses for food, fuel Sorghum lines underwent adaptation to be grown in temperate climates decades ago. Now, a University of Illinois researcher and his team have completed the first comprehensive genomic analysis of the molecular changes behind that adaptation. READ MORE SHARE