Biomass Week - June 13, 2014

EPA extends 2013 RFS compliance deadline, 2014 rule expected soon The U.S. EPA is extending the compliance deadline for the 2013 renewable fuel standard (RFS) and the associated deadline for submission of attest engagement reports for the 2013 RFS. The new deadlines are Sept. 30, 2014 and Jan 30, 2015. READ MORE SHARE
USDA to accept applications for BCAP matching payments The USDA has published a notice of funds availability for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. According to the notice, the USDA will provide $12.5 million in BCAP matching payments this year, with $12.5 million spent on technical assistance. READ MORE SHARE
	Navy opens solicitation for 37 million gallons of biofuel The U.S. Department of the Navy is seeking at least 37 million gallon of drop-in biofuels as part of its F-76 marine diesel and JP-5 shipboard jet fuel supply in the upcoming Inland/East/Gulf Coast bulk fuels solicitation. READ MORE SHARE
Report highlights benefits of coal-to-biomass conversions A new report published by FutureMetrics shows that converting old coal plants to burn wood pellets provides a ready-to-go solution for meeting carbon mitigation goals while creating jobs. READ MORE SHARE
Agriculture to rely on drones despite regulatory lag UAS hold great promise in agriculture, but the FAA is lagging in its understanding of how important drones are becoming to farmers, and in developing regulations, according to panelists at the Emerging Corn Production Technologies and Science Forum. READ MORE SHARE
Cornell University center funds 4 bioenergy projects Cornell University's David R. Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future has awarded $1.4 million from its Academic Venture Fund to 12 new university projects, including several related to biomass and bioenergy production. READ MORE SHARE
Ceres begins field evaluations of its biotech traits in sugarcane Ceres Inc. will evaluate a number of its biotech traits in sugarcane in South America. Plantings were recently completed and preliminary performance observations will be available by the end of the year. READ MORE SHARE
Cirque Energy to develop biomass gasification project in Texas Cirque Energy Inc. announced the signing of a development agreement for a project to install a 2.5 MW biomass gasification power plant to be known as the Midland Biomass Energy Station in Midland, Texas. READ MORE SHARE
York scientists provide new insights into biomass breakdown Scientists at the University of York are playing a key role in the quest for a better understanding of how a recently discovered family of enzymes can degrade hard-to-digest biomass into its constituent sugars. READ MORE SHARE
GTI announces production of high-octane renewable gasoline In a recently completed project, Gas Technology Institute worked with Haldor Topsoe Inc. on an integrated biorefinery to make renewable drop-in gasoline, successfully producing a high-octane transportation fuel. READ MORE SHARE
WBA report illustrates global increase in bioenergy production The World Bioenergy Association recently released a report, titled "WBA Global Bioenergy Statistics 2014," that determined renewables contributed 18.3 percent of the global energy mix, with bioenergy alone contributing approximately 14.1 percent. READ MORE SHARE
Landfill gas power plant inaugurated in France Officials from French waste management company Veolia Proprete, energy services company Dalkia and distributed power services provider Clarke Energy recently celebrated the inauguration of the new Electr'od landfill gas-powered cogeneration plant. READ MORE SHARE
Virgin Islands FIT Act supports small biomass, renewables U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. John deJongh has a bill that will allow residents to construct renewable energy projects and sell the electrical output to the local utility, the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority. READ MORE SHARE
POET-DSM, DuPont, Abengoa begin commissioning cellulosic plants POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels LLC, DuPont and Abengoa shared exciting updates of their respective cellulosic ethanol projects at the 2014 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo in Indianapolis. All three plants are expected to be operational soon. READ MORE SHARE
Minnesota college converting to biomass Via a boiler system upgrade and use of local wood fuel, Itasca Community College in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, hopes serve as a case study for other heating districts of its size. The upgrade could be complete by next year. READ MORE SHARE
UK energy projects sign contracts for renewable energy incentives The U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change has announced eight renewable energy projects have officially signed the first contracts under the government's electricity market reforms. The list includes previously-announced biomass projects. READ MORE SHARE
Developers of the first cellulosic plants share updates at FEW Cellulosic ethanol projects around the globe are nearing completion, attendees at the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo learned in breakout sessions featuring reports from several companies bringing these technologies to commercialization. READ MORE SHARE
Delaware utility buys power from landfill gas-to-energy project Delaware Electric Cooperative is now purchasing power produced at the Delaware Solid Waste Authority's landfill in Sandtown, Delaware. The nonprofit utility is purchasing 2 MW of power generated at the site. READ MORE SHARE
Corn forum: Stover market emergence tipping forward The collection and handling of corn stover was the focus of a panel discussion at the Emerging Corn Production Technologies and Science Forum, an event collocated with the 2014 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo. READ MORE SHARE
FEW: Ball, Dunn receive awards in Indianapolis The cream of the crop were recognized at the 2014 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo in Indianapolis on June 10. Lars Dunn received the Award of Excellence and Shirley Ball received the High Octane Award. READ MORE SHARE
Grant supports scale-up of AFEX cellulosic pretreatment process The Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization Program for the Bio-Economy has awarded funding to support the scale-up of a cellulosic pretreatment technology, with the goal of making it more broadly available for consumer use. READ MORE SHARE
Renewable Energy Group completes Dynamic Fuels acquisition Renewable Energy Group Inc. has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, REG Synthetic Fuels LLC, has completed its acquisition of the remaining 50 percent ownership interest in Dynamic Fuels LLC, previously owned by Tyson Foods Inc. READ MORE SHARE