Biomass Week - November 28, 2014

Comment period on EPA's Clean Power Plan to close Dec. 1 The public comment period on the U.S. EPA's proposed rule for the Clean Power Plan is set to close Dec. 1. The proposal aims to reduce carbon emissions from existing power plants by 30 percent by 2030, when compared to 2005 emissions. READ MORE SHARE
U.S. EPA delays 2014 RVO determination until next year On Nov. 21, the U.S. EPA announced it would not be finalizing the 2014 renewable volume obligation requirements (RVO) by the end of the year. READ MORE SHARE
	Comments due Dec. 8 on draft California energy report The California Energy Commission is accepting public comments on its Draft 2014 Integrated Energy Policy Report Update through Dec. 8. The report outlines the commission's assessments of a variety of energy issues currently impacting the state. READ MORE SHARE
LA County adopts sustainable waste management roadmap On Oct. 21, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to adopt a Roadmap to a Sustainable Waste Management Future. The roadmap lays out a general framework for strategies and initiatives aimed at decreasing reliance on landfills. READ MORE SHARE
Drax commissions study on relative cost of biomass, offshore wind Drax Power Ltd. recently commissioned a study from Frontier Economics that addresses the relative system cost of biomass and offshore wind in the U.K. The study determined the relative cost of offshore wind is significantly higher than biomass. READ MORE SHARE
Mineral Hill acquires Avis Energy and worldwide projects Mineral Hill Industries Ltd. is expanding its business activities into renewable energy by joining a company immersed in the development of waste management technology through the acquisition of Avis Energy Global Holdings Inc. READ MORE SHARE
E2: Nearly 850 advanced biofuel jobs announced during Q3 Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) recently released its third quarter clean energy jobs report, reporting that more than 18,000 clean energy and clean transportation jobs were announced in 23 states during the quarter. READ MORE SHARE
Navy scientists convert agricultural waste to silicon carbide Around the globe, billions of pounds of agricultural waste are generated every year. Scientists at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory are exploring ways to convert this waste into high-value silicon carbide. READ MORE SHARE
Helsingin Energia, Vapo agree on pellet deliveries in Finland Helsingin Energia and Vapo have agreed on wood pellet deliveries to the Salmisaari and Hanasaari combined-heat-and-power (CHP) plants. The delivery amounts are significant on the Finnish scale. Pellets are used for replacing imported coal. READ MORE SHARE
Process converts human waste into rocket fuel At t NASA's request, University of Florida researchers have figured out how to turn human waste into rocket fuel. Like so many other things developed for the space program, the process could well turn up on Earth. READ MORE SHARE
NDSU: New plastic disappears when you want it to Researchers at North Dakota State University have made a discovery that could lead to a new type of plastic that can be reduced back to molecules exposed to a specific type of light. The molecules could then be used to produce new plastic. READ MORE SHARE
Iona Capital invests in U.K. AD plant Iona Capital, a leading environmental investor, has financed its twelfth anaerobic digestion (AD) plant, Leeming Biogas Ltd., which is located adjacent to RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire and will be one of the largest gas-to-grid AD plants in the UK. READ MORE SHARE
ISU researchers develop bioplastic adhesives Researchers at Iowa State University are working to prove that adhesives made from a byproduct of biodiesel production can offer consumers a cheaper, more environmentally friendly alternative to the acrylic adhesives currently on the market. READ MORE SHARE
DOE: Report assesses value of cofiring biomass with coal A joint Idaho National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory report presents results of an evaluation funded by the Bioenergy Technologies Office that examines the effects of substituting up to 20 percent renewable biomass for coal. READ MORE SHARE
Report charts path to development of cellulosic nanomaterials The U.S. Forest Service has released a report that details the pathway to commercializing affordable, renewable, and biodegradable cellulose nanomaterials from trees. The report is the result of a workshop held earlier this year. READ MORE SHARE
SAS signs agreement for regular biofuel powered flights SAS has, along with the Lufthansa Group and KLM, signed an agreement with Statoil Aviation for a regular supply of 2.5 million liters (660,430 gallons) of biofuel at Oslo Airport, allowing the airport to offer a regular supply of biobased fuel. READ MORE SHARE
Highland EnviroFuels to license Gevo technology for Florida plant Gevo Inc. announced that Highlands EnviroFuels LLC has signed a letter of intent to become a Gevo licensee to produce renewable isobutanol. Highlands plans to build a facility in Florida that wold produce up to 25 MMgy of the biobased fuel. READ MORE SHARE
Southern Oregon University considers biomass conversion As part of an ongoing effort to become 100 percent carbon neutral by 2050, Southern Oregon University is considering replacing its existing natural gas-fired steam boilers with a biomass cogeneration facility. READ MORE SHARE