Biomass Week - October 25, 2013

Khosla, Gates commit financing to KiOR's Columbus II project KiOR Inc. has announced the execution of $100 million in committed equity-related financing in two separate private placement transactions to support the company's recently announced expansion of production capacity at its Columbus, Miss., location. READ MORE SHARE
FAME Board approves loan guarantee for torrefied pellet plant The Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) Board recently approved a $25 million loan guarantee to support a proposed torrefied wood pellet project in Millinocket, Maine. The project is under development by Thermogen Industries. READ MORE SHARE
	Waste Management to build third bioCNG plant Waste Management has broken ground on a renewable natural gas plant at the Milam Landfill in Fairmont City, Ill. The site is the 134 landfill developed by the company to produce generate electricity, produce renewable gas or displace fossil fuel. READ MORE SHARE
Koda Energy repairs include safety, efficiency upgrades Koda Energy LLC will soon be back in operation after an April accident brought the 23.4-megawatt biomass generation plant in Shakopee, Minn., offline. The company is making $6.8 million in repairs and upgrades to improve safety and performance. READ MORE SHARE
Norwich University unveils biomass heating plant Vermont's Norwich University celebrated the opening of its $6.2 million biomass heating plant Oct. 25. The facility will source and combust 13,000 tons of wood chips annually from locally harvested wood sources within a 100 mile radius. READ MORE SHARE
Greenleaf Power finalizes purchase of Quebec plant Greenleaf Power recently announced it finalized the purchase of the Quebec-based St. Felicien Cogeneration Power Plant from Enel Green Power, Canada. The 21-megawatt (MW) facility first began operations in 2001. READ MORE SHARE
EPA publishes updated GHG data The U.S. EPA has released its third year of greenhouse gas data gathered through its Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, which tracks more than 8,000 facilities in the U.S. An online tool provides users with easy access to the information. READ MORE SHARE
USDA accepting applications for Biorefinery Assistance Program The USDA has announced it is accepting applications for the Biorefinery Assistance Program, which provides loan guarantees to viable commercial-scale advanced biofuel projects. Applications are due Jan. 30, 2014. READ MORE SHARE
Amyris to enter partnership to supply biojet to GOL Airlines Amyris Inc. and GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes, the largest low-cost and low-fare airline in Latin America, announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding that could pave the way for GOL commercial flights to use Amyris biojet in 2014. READ MORE SHARE
Companies turn CO2 into C3 sugars, adding to biomass-based model Sweetwater Energy Inc. and Naturally Scientific Technologies Ltd. are expanding their relationship, announcing a joint venture to produce sugar from carbon dioxide. The joint venture will add flexibility synergies to Sweetwater's business model. READ MORE SHARE
Estover Energy moves forward with biomass CHP project U.K.-based Estover Energy Ltd. recently announced it has received planning consent from Dover District Council to proceed with a biomass-fired combined-heat-and-power (CHP) facility at Discovery Park at Sandwich, Kent, in England. READ MORE SHARE
FuelCell Energy to develop biogas-fueled project in California Connecticut-based FuelCell Energy Inc. announced updates to the development and commercialization of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology, including a SOFC power plant preparing for operation at a California dairy farm. READ MORE SHARE
Report summarizes impact of Dutch Energy Accord on cofiring A report recently filed with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service's Global Agricultural Information Network by Netherlands government discusses the implications of the Dutch Energy Accord on pellets and biomass power. READ MORE SHARE
E.ON cancels plans for 150 MW Portbury Dock biomass plant E.ON UK plc has announced it will not proceed with the proposed 150 megawatt Portbury Dock biomass project, noting the project was not a priority investment for the company under the current regulatory and policy framework. READ MORE SHARE
40 projects reached prequalified status for UK guarantee program Energy, road and rail projects worth GBP 33 billion ($53.35 billion) were prequalified after applying for a U.K. government infrastructure guarantee program. Biomass power projects were among those prequalified for the program. READ MORE SHARE
Enerkem, Myriant top Lux Research Q3 list Enerkem Inc. and Myriant Corp. are two of the companies highlighted by Lux Research in its recently released top-10 list of companies profiled during the third quarter of 2013. The selected companies show potential for near-term growth. READ MORE SHARE
Connecticut DEEP issues RFP for Class I renewables Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has issued a request for proposals for electric power produced by Class I biomass, landfill gas and run-of-river hydropower facilities. Applications are due Nov. 18. READ MORE SHARE
Biomass organizations write support letter for bioenergy programs A group of 30 biomass companies and organizations recently wrote to four congressmen supporting mandatory funding for Farm Bill Energy Title programs. The letter highlighted the economic benefits those programs can bring to rural areas. READ MORE SHARE