Biomass Week - October 24, 2014

National Bioenergy Day events held nationwide On and around Oct. 22, nearly 50 coordinated events in the U.S. and Canada are celebrating the second annual National Bioenergy Day. Events feature collaborations by the U.S. Forest Service, governments, universities and bioenergy businesses. READ MORE SHARE
National Bioenergy Day: Minnesota event features pellet boiler The U.S. Forest Service Chippewa National Forest Ranger Station in Walker, Minnesota, celebrated the second annual National Bioenergy Day Oct. 22 by hosting an open house at its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified facility. READ MORE SHARE
	Enviva to acquire Green Circle, Miss. project expected to proceed Enviva Development Holdings LLC, an affiliate of Enviva LP, recently announced an agreement to acquire Green Circle Energy Inc. The transaction is not currently expected to impact the development of a proposed pellet plant in Mississippi. READ MORE SHARE
EPA: Cellulosic fuel production continues in September The U.S. EPA has published renewable identification number (RIN) data for September, reporting that both D3 cellulosic biofuel and D7 cellulosic diesel RINs were generated during the month. READ MORE SHARE
German Pellets provides update of La. plant in financial report German Pellets has released financial results for the first half of the year, reporting increased net income. The company also indicated its Urania, Louisiana, facility is on track to begin production by the end of the year. READ MORE SHARE
Fiberight still working at MSW plant in Iowa Despite delays, Fiberight's plans to produce cellulosic ethanol from municipal solid waste in Iowa are moving forward. In fact, an equity drive happening now is attracting quite a few interested people and money is starting to come in. READ MORE SHARE
Pennsylvania pellet plant to be sold at auction in November The former Great American Pellets facility, real estate and equipment assets, will be sold during an online, lender-owned auction Nov. 11. The auction is being conducted in conjunction with Comly Auctioneers & Appraisers and Maas Companies. READ MORE SHARE
EPA funds student bioenergy projects under P3 program The U.S. EPA recently awarded funding to 42 student teams to pursue projects that deliver sustainable, alternative approaches to address environmental problems as part of its People, Prosperity and Plant program. READ MORE SHARE
New catalyst could improve biofuels production Washington State University researchers have developed a new catalyst that could lead to making biofuels cheaply and more efficiently. It is made of iron with a tiny amount of rare palladium. READ MORE SHARE
CREW sues EPA for release of RFS-related documents Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonprofit legal watchdog group, has announced it is suing the U.S. EPA for failing to release documents related to oil industry efforts to influence the renewable fuel standard (RFS). READ MORE SHARE
CBiRC helps ISU researchers launch startup companies The Biobased Foundry, established by the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Biorenewable Chemicals based at Iowa State University, is helping researchers launch startup companies. READ MORE SHARE
DOI grant to support pellet feasibility study in New Mexico Thirteen tribal and mineral development projects in New Mexico, one of which will investigate the possibility of developing a wood pellet plant, were awarded more than $2.8 million in grants by the Department of Interior. READ MORE SHARE
ZooShare's Toronto Zoo biogas project hits $1 million milestone ZooShare Biogas Cooperative Inc.'s proposed 500-kW biogas plant in Toronto recently gained traction with the help of 150 investors purchasing bonds, totaling over $1 million in financing for the project. READ MORE SHARE
DOE opens funding opportunity for feedstock research The U.S. Department of Energy has announced plans to award up to $14 million to support the development of landscape design approaches for cellulosic feedstocks that enhance environmental and socio-economic sustainability. READ MORE SHARE
Abengoa plant has multiple feedstock capabilities One of the best features of the Abengoa Bioenergy plant is the ability to convert a wide variety of feedstocks into cellulosic ethanol, Chris Standlee, executive vice president of Abengoa, said Oct. 17 prior to the plant's grand opening ceremony. READ MORE SHARE
LSU AgCenter releases sweet sorghum production guide To help guide commercial production of Sweet sorghum, the Louisiana State University AgCenter has released the Sweet Sorghum Production Guide. READ MORE SHARE
Ensyn announces RFO biofuels supply agreement with N.H. hospital Ensyn Fuels, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ensyn Corp., has signed a contract with Valley Regional Hospital in Claremont, New Hampshire, for the supply of approximately 250,000 gallons per year of RFO, Ensyn's advanced cellulosic biofuel. READ MORE SHARE
Cooper Tire begins testing tires made with guayule Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has completed tire builds using rubber derived from guayule plants and new guayule related materials. The tires are being evaluated by Cooper's technical team using rigorous wheel, road and track tests. READ MORE SHARE
Biobased materials, chemicals attract significant investment The bio-based materials and chemicals industry is poised to attract $974 million in investment this year, led notably by later-stage funding rounds, according to Lux Research. The investment represents a 28 percent increase from last year. READ MORE SHARE
Boeing, COMAC open biofuel demonstration facility in China Boeing and Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China have opened a demonstration facility that will turn waste cooking oil, commonly referred to as "gutter oil" in China, into sustainable aviation biofuel. READ MORE SHARE
Total supplying racing fuel containing Gevo's biobased isooctane Gevo Inc. announced that it is selling renewable isooctane to Total for formulation into Formula 1 racing fuel. Gevo's renewable isobutanol from Luverne, Minnesota, is being converted into bio-isooctane at its biorefinery at South Hampton Resources. READ MORE SHARE
GE gas engines to power Phoenix Energy's Calif. bioenergy plants GE's Distributed Power business, Western Energy Systems and Phoenix Energy recently announced they have signed an agreement for GE to supply ecomagination qualified Jenbacher gas engines to several California bioenergy projects. READ MORE SHARE