Biomass Week - February 13, 2015

Washington solicits comments on potential clean fuel standard The Washington Department of Ecology recently published a discussion document to jumpstart dialogue on a potential rulemaking for a state clean fuel standard. The program would be similar to the California and Oregon low carbon fuel standards. READ MORE SHARE
University of Maine at Farmington to build biomass heating plant At the end of January, the University of Maine at Farmington received approval from the University of Maine System Board Of Trustees to move forward with plans to construct an $11 million biomass heat plant on campus. READ MORE SHARE
	USDA holds media call on $280 million REAP funding opportunity On Feb. 10, the USDA hosted a media call announcing more than $280 million is being made available to eligible applicants through the Rural Energy for America Program. Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted recent improvements made to REAP. READ MORE SHARE
Report: European pellet demand could increase U.S. forest area A recently released study led by U.S. Forest Service scientists finds that demand for U.S. pellets in Europe and other areas could provide new markets for U.S. timber exports, increase wood prices, and lead to increases in forestland area. READ MORE SHARE
Bluesphere announces closing of joint venture for biogas project On Feb. 9, Bluesphere Corp. announced the closing of a joint venture with affiliates of York Capital Management, who will provide the financing for a 5.2 MW biogas project in Charlotte, North Carolina. READ MORE SHARE
Covanta reports increased revenues in 2014 financial results Covanta Holding Corp. has released 2014 financial results, reporting revenue of $1.68 billion, up from $1.63 billion in 2013. The primary driver of the increase was North American energy-from-waste (EfW) revenue, which increased by $39 million. READ MORE SHARE
NRDC publishes airline sustainability scorecard The Natural Resources Defense Council recently released a scorecard that ranks airlines on the use of sustainable biofuels. According to the NDRC's report, Air France/KLM is the leader of the pack. READ MORE SHARE
Biomass power with CCS could make western U.S. carbon-negative A new University of California, Berkeley study shows that if biomass electricity production is combined with carbon capture and sequestration in the western U.S., power generators could actually store more carbon than they emit. READ MORE SHARE
IRENA report highlights bioenergy growth potential in the U.S. The International Renewable Energy Agency has published a report that highlights the realistic potential for higher renewable uptake in all sectors of the U.S. energy system, including power, industry, building and the transportation sector. READ MORE SHARE
New president to lead Poet-DSM joint venture Poet-DSM Advanced Biofuels' commercial activities will be moving forward under the leadership of the joint venture's first president, Dan Cummings. He joins Poet-DSM after serving as president and director of INEOS New Planet BioEnergy. READ MORE SHARE
Paper considers the future of biomass heating in the U.K. CPL Industries, a distributor of wood pellet heating solutions in the U.K., has published a paper exploring the benefits of incorporating biomass into long-term heating strategies for 2020 and beyond. READ MORE SHARE
Neste Oil reports increased sales volume for renewable diesel Neste Oil has released financial results for 2014, reporting comparable operating project of EUR 583 million ($669.09 million), including comparable operating profit of EUR 254 million during the fourth quarter. READ MORE SHARE
BNEF publishes Sustainable Energy in America Factbook Bloomberg New Energy Finance recently released the 2015 edition of its Sustainable Energy in America Factbook. The report includes information on biomass, biogas, waste-to-energy, and a variety of other renewable energy technologies. READ MORE SHARE
EIA updates short-term forecasts for bioenergy The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the February issue of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, reporting that total renewables use for electricity and heat generation is expected to grow 3.8 percent this year. READ MORE SHARE
New Reverdia patents strengthen Biosuccinium licensing Pivotal patents have been granted to DSM in Europe, Japan and Canada for its yeast-based succinic acid production technology, with exclusive rights awarded to Reverdia. The patents cover technology for economically viable biosuccinic acid production. READ MORE SHARE
BPI announces startup of pilot plant featuring LTSD technology Bio-Process Innovation Inc. has announced the completion of the construction of its 1-ton pilot plant and successful operation of its low temperature steep delignification (LTSD) pretreatment process at its facility in Otterbein, Indiana. READ MORE SHARE
DECC publishes 12th survey on renewable energy public attitudes The U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change recently published its findings from an updated survey that tracks public attitudes towards renewable energy. The results include information on public attitudes towards biomass heating. READ MORE SHARE
NFF recognizes biochar, biochemical business ideas The National Forest Foundation recently announced the winners of the 2014 Barrett Foundation Business Concept Challenge, which recognizes the best entrepreneurial approaches that solve one or more of the challenges facing the National Forest System. READ MORE SHARE
USDA ARS scientists develop higher yielding sorghum plants A new sorghum plant developed by scientists at the USDA Agricultural Research Service Cropping Systems Research Laboratory can produce 30 to 40 percent more seeds than conventional varieties currently grown by farmers. READ MORE SHARE
A ray of sunshine for bioenergy A new University of Minnesota study examining the financial viability of solar-heated biomass gasification technologies that produce a natural gas substitute product concludes that combining these renewable resources can make economic sense. READ MORE SHARE
Algenol closes on internal equity financing Algenol has closed on a $25 million dollar investment from BioFields, a Mexican business group devoted to the development of renewable and clean energy projects. This new investment follows a $40 million investment made by BioFields last year. READ MORE SHARE
Thunder Bay Generating Station now fueled by advanced biomass Ontario Power Generation's Thunder Bay Generating Station is now in service and is leading the electricity industry with an exciting new technology. The station has been converted to use advanced biomass, a renewable, clean and dispatchable fuel. READ MORE SHARE
North American pellet exports reached a new record high in Q3 Asia has become a new market for wood pellet exporters in Western Canada with shipments having increased for six consecutive quarters, while Canadian exports to Europe have fallen during 2014, reports the North American Wood Fiber Review. READ MORE SHARE
University of Missouri prototype AD system processes pig manure The University of Missouri has unveiled a prototype small-scale anaerobic digestion system that produces biogas from pig manure. The biogas can be used to heat a farm and create electricity. The device also reduces odor from swine operations. READ MORE SHARE