Biomass Week - August 15, 2014

First international standards in solid biofuels published The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers announces that the first seven international standards in the expanding industry of solid biofuels have been published. In addition, work has also begun on part eight of the series. READ MORE SHARE
Platts announces industrial wood pellet price assessments Platts has expanded its electric power offerings to include a weekly spot price assessment for Europe-delivered industrial wood pellets and a suite of U.K. wood pellet profitability spreads at different fuel efficiencies. READ MORE SHARE
	BioAmber reports progress with Sarnia plant in Q2 results BioAmber Inc. has released second quarter financial results, reporting that the company's biobased succinic acid plant in Sarnia, Ontario, is progressing on budget and is expected to be complete in early 2015. READ MORE SHARE
Groups advocate for biogenic emissions framework in letter More than 100 organizations recently partnered to issue a letter to John Podesta, counselor to President Obama, urging his support in the release of the U.S. EPA's biogenic accounting framework. READ MORE SHARE
Stoel Rives: IRS issues new guidance on ITC/PTC The IRS has issued guidance that clarifies and modifies prior guidance regarding the "beginning of construction" requirement for qualifying for the Section 45 production tax credit (PTC) and the Section 48 investment tax credit (ITC) READ MORE SHARE
Novozymes reports strong growth in bioenergy sales Novozymes has released financial results for the first half of the year, reporting that sales growth was in line with expectations. Organically, sales grew by 8 percent. EBIT grew by 19 percent and EBIT margin reached 28.1 percent. READ MORE SHARE
Gevo provides update on side-by-side operations in Q2 results Gevo inc. has released second quarter financial results, reporting revenues of $7.7 million, up from $1.9 million during the same period of 2013. The company attributes the increase to the production and sale of ethanol and distillers grains. READ MORE SHARE
Residential wood heat incentives trending In New York and Massachusetts, residential wood heating incentives are on a roll, and the industry is beginning to see trends, according to John Ackerly, president of the Alliance for Green Heat. READ MORE SHARE
Poet-DSM announces grand opening for Project Liberty Poet-DSM has planned a Sept. 3 grand opening celebration at the Project Liberty cellulosic ethanol plant in Emmetsberg, Iowa. It's a milestone many have been waiting for eagerly. READ MORE SHARE
SG Preston to build 120 MMgy renewable diesel plant in Ohio SG Preston plans to build a 120 MMgy renewable diesel facility in in Lawrence County, Ohio. The SGP South Point facility, expected to be complete in 2017, will cost $400 million and create 100 permanent jobs, the company stated. READ MORE SHARE
USDA: New switchgrass variety promises more biofuel at lower cost The release of a new type of switchgrass specifically designed for bioenergy generation has been announced by USDA researchers and their partners. The cultivar "Liberty" can yield 8 tons of biomass per acre. READ MORE SHARE
KiOR provides update in Q2 report KiOR Inc. has filed its second quarter financial report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, providing an update of the company's financial and operational status. READ MORE SHARE
Schumer introduces bill to make biogas eligible for ITC Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., recently introduced legislation that aims to encourage the construction of anaerobic digestion facilities by adding biogas to the list of renewable energy sources that are eligible for a 30 percent investment tax credit. READ MORE SHARE
Biogen begins operations at food waste AD plant in the U.K. Anaerobic digestion specialist Biogen has successfully completed construction and begun operations at the largest food waste anaerobic digestion plant in Wales, which will recycle 22,500 metric tons of food per year into 1 MW of electricity. READ MORE SHARE
Virent receives EPA registration for BioForm gasoline Virent Inc. announced it has successfully received fuel registration from the U.S. EPA for its BioForm gasoline in blends of up to 45 percent. As a registered fuel, Virent's biogasoline can now be used in on-highway motor vehicles. READ MORE SHARE
Conn. provides incentive to replace less efficient wood furnaces Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has announced a grant program that offers a financial incentive for the removal or replacement of older, less efficient outdoor wood burning furnaces. READ MORE SHARE
Construction underway on Missouri anaerobic digestion project Construction is underway in Missouri on an innovative $80 million renewable energy project, developed and constructed by Roeslein Alternative Energy LLC in collaboration with Murphy-Brown of Missouri LLC, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods Inc. READ MORE SHARE
Researcher: Regulations needed to identify invasive feedstocks In response to the need to prevent invasive species, researchers at the University of Illinois have developed both a set of regulatory definitions and provisions and a list of 49 low-risk biofuel plants from which growers can choose. READ MORE SHARE
B&W Volund to supply biomass-fired boilers to Denmark facility DONG Energy has chosen Babcock & Wilcox Volund as supplier of two complete biomass-fired boiler systems and equipment to a power station in Fredericia, Denmark, with a value of close to approximately 500 million DKK ($89.66 million). READ MORE SHARE
Researchers develop technique to convert biogas into hydrogen A new technique that transforms stinky, air-polluting landfill gas could produce the sweet smell of success as it leads to development of a fuel cell generating clean electricity for homes, offices and hospitals, researchers say. READ MORE SHARE
No injuries, environmental harm reported following digester fire Clear Horizons Dane LLC, which operates the Dane County community digester project near Waunakee, Wisconsin, has reported that a fire at the facility Aug. 6 was extinguished within an hour and no injuries or release of hazardous materials occurred. READ MORE SHARE
Progress continues on development of solid biofuel standards Meeting recently in Stockholm, ISO Technical Committee 238, Solid Biofuels, made measurable progress toward developing the content for a series of physical property test standards and related topics. READ MORE SHARE
CSP receives $20 million NSF grant to pioneer bioplastics The University of Minnesota's Center for Sustainable Polymers recently announced it has been awarded a $20 million grant over five years from the National Science Foundation focused on discoveries of the next generation of biobased plastics. READ MORE SHARE