Pellet Mill Press - June 17, 2014

Alter Energy Group plans to purchase, expand N.C. pellet plant On June 10, Zurich, Switzerland-based Alter Energy Group AG announced it has signed a letter of intent to acquire a pellet plant located in North Carolina. According to Edward Klaeger, CEO of AEG, the acquisition is expected to close in early August. READ MORE SHARE
Northeast Wood Products purchases Pennington Seed pellet mills Northeast Wood Products LLC has acquired Pennington Seed Co.'s 65,000-metric-ton-per year pellet plant in Peebles, Ohio, along with assets from a facility in Virginia. The company is also in the process of acquiring a pellet plant in Indiana. READ MORE SHARE
	UK wood pellet company invests in screening, handling equipment Midland Bio Energy Ltd., a wood pellet company in Warwickshire, England, has invested GBP 20,000 ($27,319) in new handling and screening equipment to improve the quality of the pellets they deliver and efficiency of the operating systems. 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
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
Massachusetts grants $3.5 million to renewable thermal industry Massachusetts has dedicated $3.5 million to nine renewable thermal projects in the state through a new grant program, the Massachusetts Renewable Thermal Business Investment Financing Program. READ MORE SHARE
USDA announces funding for 2 Farm Bill bioenergy programs Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced up to $14.5 million in funding for two USDA bioenergy programs made available through the 2014 Farm Bill. USDA also announced the availability of its new Bioeconomy Tool Shed. 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
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
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
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
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
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
Trade mission to Peru to address biomass, biofuel opportunities The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration is organizing a renewable energy and energy efficiency trade mission to Peru in November that will promote the export competitiveness of U.S. technologies. READ MORE SHARE
Report provides global overview of bioenergy, biofuel development A new report published by Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21) provides a global overview of advances in renewable energy development, including development related to bioenergy, ethanol and other types of biofuels. READ MORE SHARE
Flemish decision on subsidies reportedly impacts pellet cofiring A recent report filed with the USDA Global Agricultural Information Network indicates the Flemish power sector may have stopped cofiring wood pellets due to a recent reinterpretation of Flemish law that restricts the approval of Green Certificates. READ MORE SHARE
Danish government: biomass, wind, contenders for renewable goals The Danish Energy Agency has released a report that concludes it is technically possible the country could become fossil fuel independent by 2050, as well as reach the government's goal of fossil fuel independent electricity and heating by 2035. READ MORE SHARE
Standardizing Pellet Safety Countries around the globe are combining efforts to develop robust safety standards for pelletized biofuels. READ MORE SHARE
Safety Essential to Global Biomass Use Safety should be considered a core value, not a priority or a separate bullet point, that top management strives to combine with productivity, quality or even profitability. READ MORE SHARE
Response to Tragedy Can Make or Break a Business Organizations with well-thought-out communications strategies fare better in the face of crises. READ MORE SHARE