Biomass Week - September 19, 2014

DOD awards 3 biofuel contracts under Defense Production Act Red Rock Biofuels, Fulcrum Bioenergy and Emerald Biofuels have been awarded contracts under the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Protection Act to construct and commission biorefineries for the production of drop-in biofuels. READ MORE SHARE
EPA extends Clean Power Plan comment period The U.S. EPA has extended the comment period on its proposed Clean Power Plan for an additional month and a half. The deadline to submit comments is now set for Dec. 1. READ MORE SHARE
	Community aims to develop district heating project in Minnesota A proposed biomass-fueled district heating project in Grand Marais, Minnesota, is one step closer to reality with the recent publication of a Step II study. Construction could begin as soon as 2016. READ MORE SHARE
Procter & Gamble biomass CHP project moving forward A $230 million combined-heat-and-power biomass project under construction in Albany, Georgia, is progressing, it's most recent milestone being approval of a deal with the Albany-Dougherty Payroll Development Authority. READ MORE SHARE
Senate Finance Committee holds hearing on energy tax incentives The U.S. Senate is once again addressing energy tax incentives. On Sept. 17, the Senate Committee on Finance held a hearing, titled "Reforming America's Outdated Energy Tax Code," to discuss possible paths forward to reform U.S. energy tax code. READ MORE SHARE
Massachusetts adds thermal provision to state APS In August, Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick signed legislation that adds renewable thermal energy as a component of the state's alternative portfolio standard (APS). The measure is set to go into effect on Jan. 1. READ MORE SHARE
$24.3 million AD project planned for WWTP in Duluth, Minnesota The Western Lake Superior Sanitary District in Duluth, Minnesota, is planning a $24.3 million upgrade to its existing anaerobic digestion facility. The project will be implemented in three phases over the next 5 years, beginning in 2015. READ MORE SHARE
Nebraska Forest Service offering biomass energy system grants The Nebraska Forest Service announced it will offer two cost-share assistance grants for organizations including municipalities, universities, hospitals and greenhouses that wish to install woody biomass-fired energy systems. READ MORE SHARE
IRENA report features bioenergy supply, demand projections The International Renewable Energy Agency has published a new report predicting a major role for modern, sustainable biomass technologies in the world's energy mix. It includes forecasts for power, thermal and liquid fuels production. READ MORE SHARE
Florida cellulosic ethanol plant upgraded, coming back online The Indian River BioEnergy Center, a cellulosic ethanol production center near Vero Beach, Florida, has completed a major turnaround, including technology upgrades, and the facility is now being brought back online. READ MORE SHARE
Gevo provides update on Luverne, Minnesota, plant Gevo reported an update on the progress of the side-by-side operational mode (SBS) of its plant in Luverne, Minnesota, on Sept. 18. READ MORE SHARE
Enviva to develop 3 new pellet plants Enviva LP is pursuing the development of three new wood pellet plants, including two in North Carolina, which were recently announced by state officials. A location for the third project has not been finalized. READ MORE SHARE
Dane County landfill expansion to increase savings and production A landfill in Dane County, Wisconsin, is expanding its landfill gas-to-energy project. Once complete, the operation is expected to have an annual capacity of approximately 6 MW. Construction is expected to be complete in December. READ MORE SHARE
ElectraTherm technology generates power from wood waste ElectraTherm has commissioned its second Green Machine at an integrated wood products mill in Wallowa, Oregon. Together, the two machines operate off the waste heat of a biomass boiler to generate emission-free electricity. READ MORE SHARE
MIPS funds 5 poultry manure-to-energy projects The Maryland Industrial Partnerships Program has approved research projects worth $4.7 million to 18 teams, including five projects worth $1.9 million that aim to convert poultry manure into energy. READ MORE SHARE
Lufthansa conducts European flight using sugar-based biofuel On Sept. 15, Lufthansa flight LH 190 from Frankfurt to Berlin Tegel was operated using a 10 percent blend of the new biofuel component farnesan, a sugar-based fuel developed jointly by Total and Amyris. READ MORE SHARE
BlueFire Renewables pursues new avenues of revenue for projects BlueFire Renewables Inc. recently filed a quarterly report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission noting the company is seeking financing for its proposed Fulton, Mississippi, project from Chinese entities. READ MORE SHARE
Chempolis, NRL partner to produce cellulosic ethanol, chemicals Chempolis Ltd. has signed a memorandum of understanding with India-based Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. that could result in the development of a cellulosic biorefinery that produces ethanol, furfural and acetic acid. READ MORE SHARE
Herty adds hammer mills, broadens scope of testing opportunities The addition of two wood grinding hammer mills to the pilot testing facility at Georgia Southern University's Herty Advanced Materials Development Center will allow for efficient testing of high moisture content materials for pellet feedstock. READ MORE SHARE