Biomass Week - January 3, 2014

PPA approved for Hawaii biomass power plant The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has approved a power purchase agreement (PPA) between the Hawaii Electric Light Co. Inc. (HELCO) and Hu Honua Bioenergy LLC for the Hu Honua biomass project. The approval was handed down on Dec. 20. READ MORE SHARE
Manitoba bans coal, petroleum coke heating, incentivizes biomass Manitoba's petroleum coke and coal heating ban is set to go into effect with the new year, and the province is encouraging substitution with locally available, green sources of heat, including biomass and geothermal. READ MORE SHARE
	Biomass power study begins in Colorado Springs Colorado Springs Utilities began its year-long biomass power pilot project to determine the best cofiring blend at its Martin Drake Power Plant on Jan. 1. The plant will consume 50 to 60 tons per day of woodchips. READ MORE SHARE
Washington DNR seeks mobile pyrolysis demonstration units The Washington State Department of Natural Resources has issued a request for proposals to demonstrate up to four mobile pyrolysis technologies within the state that convert woody biomass into bio-oil and biochar. Proposals are due by Jan. 31. READ MORE SHARE
Poll reveals support for Ohio clean energy initiative A new poll conducted in Ohio has revealed citizens of the state overwhelmingly support the Ohio Clean Energy Initiative, which aims to enact a constitutional amendment that would provide $1.3 billion a year for Ohio to invest in clean energy. READ MORE SHARE
MSU research into algal biofuels keys larger study There is a lab in the engineering complex at Montana State University where grow lights stay on night and day, even during the winter holiday season, nurturing various bubbling containers of bright green algae. READ MORE SHARE
MPM Technologies signs MOU with WSU, Neos-SDI for biojet process MPM Technologies Inc. announced it has secured memorandums of understanding (MOU) from both Washington State University and Neos-SDI to assist in the research, development and deployment of its plasma-arc gasification technology. READ MORE SHARE
Anaerobic digestion project planned in Philippines U.K.-based Gazasia Ltd. recently signed an agreement outlining the services it will provide to its joint venture vehicle Aseagas during the next stage of the partnership's project, which includes the development biogas plant in Philippines. READ MORE SHARE
Field trial of lignin modified poplars shows potential VIB has announced that the results of a field trial with genetically modified poplar trees in Zwijnaarde, Belgium, shows that the wood of lignin modified poplar trees can be converted into sugars in a more efficient way. READ MORE SHARE
Viridis Merchants structures its first transaction Viridis Energy Inc. announced that its recently launched, wholly owned subsidiary, Viridis Merchants Inc., an aggregation and trading service between buyers and sellers of alternative energy, including wood pellets, structured its first transaction. READ MORE SHARE
Camco Clean Energy completes acquisition of Idaho facility London-based Camco Clean Energy plc recently announced it completed the acquisition of a 2.1-megawatt (MW) biogas facility in Twin Falls, Idaho. The facility is located less than 30 miles from the company's 4-MW biogas plant near Jerome, Idaho. READ MORE SHARE