Biomass Week - December 19, 2014

Senate passes short-term tax extenders package On Dec. 16, the U.S. Senate passed a short-term tax extenders package that aims to retroactively extend several tax incentives that expired at the end of 2013 and throughout this year through the end of 2014. READ MORE SHARE
U.K. DECC proposes RO changes for biomass cofiring, conversions The U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change is proposing to make changes to its Renewables Obligation for certain biomass facilities, including those that carry out new conversions from coal to biomass or increase the levels of cofiring. READ MORE SHARE
	Iogen announces startup of Brazilian cellulosic ethanol plant Ottawa-based Iogen Corp. announced its first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant is producing ethanol in Brazil. The first 200,000 liters (53,000 gallons) has been distributed by Brazilian ethanol producer Raizen to its network of gas stations. READ MORE SHARE
Mono County biomass project in California receives $215,000 grant California's Mono County thermal biomass project is one of three ventures awarded funding through the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Grant Program. The project received $215,000 to replace a propane boiler with biomass boiler system. READ MORE SHARE
BPC report highlights 40 RFS policy options Growth Energy has responded to a report released by the Bipartisan Policy Center that describes several options for reforming the renewable fuel standard (RFS), noting it pushes some of same tired talking points Big Oil has relied on for years. READ MORE SHARE
Vencor International enters agreement to produce bio-coal Venco International Inc. recently announced it has entered into an five-year agreement with Vega Biofuels Inc. to produce bio-coal, a form of torrefied wood pellets. The initial order of 3,000 tons will be produced and ready to ship in early 2015. READ MORE SHARE
FutureMetrics paper focuses on biomass conversions FutureMetrics LLC recently published a white paper on the conversion of old pulverized coal plants to use advanced solid biofuel rather than coal, noting biomass conversions are a low-cost solution to comply with state renewable portfolio standards. READ MORE SHARE
SUNY wins DOE grant to support feedstock logistics research The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded up to $3 million to the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry to develop and demonstrate ways to reduce the cost of delivering woody bioenergy feedstocks to biorefineries. READ MORE SHARE
N.Y. awards funding to bioenergy projects through REDC initiative New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced that $709.2 million in economic and community development funding has been awarded through Round IV of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative. Several bioenergy projects were granted funding. READ MORE SHARE
U.K. opens competition to fund demonstration-scale biofuel plants The U.K. Department for Transport has announced plans to award GBP 25 million ($39.37 million) to support the development of up to three advanced biofuel demonstration plants through a two-phase competition. READ MORE SHARE
Solegear, TEQ sign agreement to increase use of bioplastic Solegear Bioplastics and Thermoform Engineered Quality have signed a strategic agreement to accelerate the growth and expansion of Solegear's bioplastics into identified growth sectors of the rigid plastic packaging marketplace. READ MORE SHARE
Portucel to construct pellet plant in South Carolina Portugal-based Portucel S.A. has announced plans to build a 460,000-ton-per-year pellet plant in Greenwood County, South Carolina. Construction on the $110 million project is expected to begin in early 2015, with operations commencing in 2016. READ MORE SHARE
USDA improves forest health by harvesting biomass for energy Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that more than 200,000 tons of biomass were removed from federal lands through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. This summer, 19 energy facilities in 10 states participated in BCAP. READ MORE SHARE
Amyris renewable jet fuel receives regulatory approval in Brazil Amyris Inc. welcomed the approval of its renewable jet fuel by Brazil's fuels regulator, ANP, clearing the way for the commercialization in Brazil of the Amyris renewable jet fuel in blends of up to 10 percent. READ MORE SHARE
Renmatix acquires Sweden-based REAC Fuel's intellectual property Renmatix Inc. recently announced it has acquired the intellectual property rights and know-how of REAC Fuel. Based in Sweden, REAC has developed intellectual property that complements Renmatix's existing technology portfolio. READ MORE SHARE
USDA provides greater protection for specialty crop growers Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that greater protection is now available from the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for crops that traditionally have been ineligible for federal crop insurance, including energy crops. READ MORE SHARE
Wood Resources International: U.S. pellet exports up in Q2 The U.S. South increased pellet exports to Europe by 10 percent from the fourth quarter of 2013 through the second quarter of 2014. During the same period, Canada decreased exports to Europe by 25 percent, but significantly increased exports to Asia. READ MORE SHARE
ETH Zurich researchers manufacture PLA from glycerol Polylactic acid is a degradable plastic used mostly for packaging. To meet the rising demand, ETH Zurich researchers have developed an eco-friendly process to make large amounts of lactic acid from glycerol, a biodiesel byproduct. READ MORE SHARE