Pellet Mill Monthly - November 5, 2013

USIPA Exporting Pellet Conference kicks off in Florida The 3rd Annual U.S. Industrial Pellet Association Exporting Pellets Conference opened Oct. 28 in Miami with a blend of optimism and measured pragmatism. The morning session featured a European utility roundtable discussion. READ MORE SHARE
Pellet CEOs speak candidly about opportunities, growing pains Bullish industry optimism was punctuated by hints of an industry confronting its inevitable growing pains during the final panel of the U.S. Industrial Pellet Association's 3rd Annual Exporting Pellets Conference, held Oct. 27-29 in Miami. READ MORE SHARE
	Panel discusses wood biomass sustainability, coming regulations Nigel Burdett of Drax Power kicked off a panel discussion at the U.S. Industrial Pellet Association's 3rd annual Exporting Pellets Conference by commenting on the role of sustainability in the transition from coal to wood pellets. READ MORE SHARE
GCRE acquires Bayou Wood Pellets, plans expansion Gulf Coast Renewable Energy has announced the acquisition of West Monroe, La.-based Bayou Wood Pellets LLC. The company is also making investments to expand the facility's production capacity, and plans to develop three additional pellet plants. 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
BlueFire Renewables adds pellet production to Miss. facility BlueFire Renewables Inc. has integrated a synergistic wood pellet production plant to its facility in Fulton, Miss. The reconfigured design will be a 9 million gallon per year ethanol plant integrated with a 400,000 ton per year wood pellet plant. READ MORE SHARE
N.C. approves agreement for pellet export facility The North Carolina Council of State has approved a deal that expands the Ports' profile in the highly competitive wood pellet industry. The North Carolina State Ports Authority Board of Directors approved the same agreement last week. READ MORE SHARE
Europeans tour Southeast forests, discuss pellet supply chains Meeting the sustainability requirements of the growing market for pellet exports to Europe was the focus of a workshop held in Savannah, Ga., Oct. 23-24. It was organized by the Pinchot Institute for Conservation and the International Energy Agency. READ MORE SHARE
Vermont, Upper Austria partner to promote biomass heating The leaders of the state of Vermont and the state of Upper Austria have signed an agreement to collaborate on the promotion of biomass heating. The agreement was announced at the annual Renewable Energy Vermont conference in Burlington, Vt. 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
NRC announces bioenergy research initiative On Oct. 9, the National Research Council of Canada announced the launch of a new research program that aims to help industry capitalize on the market opportunities offered the production of energy from biomass. 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
Fire does little damage to MFA Oil Biomass pellet facility in Mo. MFA Oil Biomass LLC's pellet production and storage facility was closed on Sunday, Oct. 13, when neighbors noticed smoke and called the fire department. While the final report is not complete, lightning is the suspected cause of the fire. READ MORE SHARE
National Bioenergy Day spurs 25 events in U.S., Canada Oct. 17 marks the first-ever National Bioenergy Day, which is being celebrated by trade associations, schools and universities in 13 U.S. states and one Canadian providence. The celebration features 25 events to demonstrate the benefits of bioenergy. READ MORE SHARE