Biomass Week - January 24, 2014

EU proposal sets renewable energy targets, ignores biofuels The European Commission has published a proposal calling for a greenhouse gas reduction of 40 percent below the 1990 level along with an EU-wide 27 percent binding target for renewable energy by 2030. The proposal doesn't address transport fuels. READ MORE SHARE
Meeting the needs of famers critical to biomass, residue harvest While the baling of crop residues and forage crops is nothing new, the sheer volume that will be required to supply a commercial biorefinery makes developing a reliable, cost effective supply chain a challenge. READ MORE SHARE
	Court denies LCFS rehearing request The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has denied the petitions requesting a rehearing en banc regarding California's Low Carbon Fuels Standard. As such, a prior ruling that the LCFS does not violate interstate commerce laws stands. READ MORE SHARE
Sonoco dedicates $75 million biomass boiler facility Sonoco has dedicated the new biomass facility at its Hartsville, S.C., plant. The biomass boiler is part of a $100 million investment in the Darlington County compound. It will be fueled primarily by woody biomass from regional logging activities. READ MORE SHARE
Dean Tiessen Memorial Fund to honor agricultural entrepreneur A memorial fund has been established to honor the vision and memory of southwestern Ontario agricultural entrepreneur Dean Tiessen of New Energy Farms, who died tragically in Brazil late last year. READ MORE SHARE
Renewable Energy Group acquires biochemical company LS9 Renewable Energy Group Inc. has announced it has acquired leading renewable chemical technology developer LS9 Inc. for a purchase price of up to $61.5 million, consisting of up front and earnout payments, in stock and cash. READ MORE SHARE
Iogen announces new drop-in cellulosic biofuel from biogas Ottawa-based Iogen Corp. announced it has developed and patented a new method to make drop-in cellulosic biofuels from biogas using existing refinery assets and production operations. READ MORE SHARE
Senators defend RFS in letter to EPA A bipartisan group of senators has issued a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy expressing concern over the EPA's proposed rule to set 2014 renewable fuel standard (RFS) volume requirements and urging the EPA to modify the proposal. READ MORE SHARE
Army to prepare EIS for proposed biofuel power plant in Hawaii The U.S. Army has filed a notice in the Federal Register announcing its intent to prepare a joint environmental impact statement lease of land in Hawaii to the Hawaiian Electric Co. for a proposed 50-megawatt plant fueled by diesel and biofuel. READ MORE SHARE
"Sweet crude" biofuel developed at University of Texas at Austin Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin developed "sweet crude" biofuel using genetically engineered yeast cells and household sugar. The yeast was genetically modified to enable up to 90 percent of the the cell mass to become lipids. READ MORE SHARE
Global Bioenergies, Audi partner on drop-in biofuel Global Bioenergies has announced the signing of a collaboration agreement with the German car manufacturer Audi on the development of isobutene-derived isooctane, a high performance biofuel for gasoline engines. READ MORE SHARE
EurObserv'ER solid biomass report reflects growth in the EU EurObserv'ER has published its annual Solid Biomass Barometer, reporting that primary energy production from solid biomass is growing. The analysis estimates that solid biomass use in the E.U. increased to 82.3 million tons of oil equivalent in 2012. READ MORE SHARE
Maverick Biofuels changes its name to Maverick Synfuels Maverick Biofuels, a leader in alternative fuels and chemicals production technology, has changed its name to Maverick Synfuels to reflect the company's growth strategy for producing synthetic fuels and chemicals from low-value feedstocks and waste. READ MORE SHARE
Industry says RFS proposal will chill cellulosic investments The U.S. EPA's proposed reductions to the 2014 renewable fuel standard (RFS) volume requirements will not only impact current biofuel producers, the move is also expected to chill investment in second generation cellulosic projects and technologies. READ MORE SHARE
UK trade unions ask for government meeting to discuss Eggborough Trade unions in the U.K. are asking to meet with government officials to discuss the omission of the Eggborough Power Station from a list of renewable energy projects that are likely to receive subsidies. READ MORE SHARE
Bioenergy sales contribute to Novozymes' 2013 growth Novozymes has released its 2013 results, reporting that all financial targets for the year were met or exceeded. Overall organic sales growth was 7 percent. Sales to the bioenergy and household care industries were the biggest drivers of growth. READ MORE SHARE
California joint venture to recycle waste cooking oil into biogas The Encina Wastewater Authority has announced the award of a contract to J.R. Filanc Construction and partnership with Liquid Environmental Solutions to build an alternative fuel receiving facility that will recycle waste cooking oil and other waste. READ MORE SHARE
Initiative supports biojet industry in United Arab Emirates Boeing, Etihad Airways, Takreer, Total and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology have announced they will collaborate on a new initiative to support a sustainable aviation biofuel industry in the United Arab Emirates. READ MORE SHARE
Biomass system to be sold at auction The Piney Creek Power Plant in Clarion, Pa., is being sold at auction. According to information released on the sale, the facility's assets include a biomass system manufactured by West Salem Machinery that was installed in 2012. READ MORE SHARE
UW researchers: Renewable chemical ready for biofuels scale-up Using a plant-derived chemical known as gamma valerolactone, or GVL, University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have developed a process for creating a concentrated stream of sugars that's ripe with possibility for biofuels. READ MORE SHARE
CCEMC supports biogas, MSW pellet projects Alberta-based, Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation has added its support to 12 new renewable energy projects during 2012 and 2013, bringing its total to 51 projects with $213 million in committed funding. READ MORE SHARE
Letter calls for revision of EPA's 2014 RFS proposal A bipartisan group of 30 members of Congress recently sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, expressing concern over the EPA's proposed 2014 volume requirements under the renewable fuels standard (RFS). READ MORE SHARE