Biomass Week - March 20, 2015

Obama signs executive order to reduce federal GHG emissions President Obama has signed an executive order focused on planning for federal sustainability in the next decade. Renewable energy targets and compliance with the USDA's BioPreferred program are among the issues addressed in the executive order. READ MORE SHARE
API, AFPM sue EPA over RFS delays The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers and American Petroleum Institute have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia against the U.S. EPA regarding delays in finalizing 2014 and 2015 renewable fuel standards. READ MORE SHARE
	BioAmber begins commissioning Sarnia plant BioAmber Inc. has released 2014 financial results and announced commissioning has begun at its 30,000 metric ton succinic acid plant in Sarnia, Ontario. The facility is expected to reach commercial production by the third quarter. READ MORE SHARE
Rentech releases 2014 results, nears completion of pellet plants On March 17, Rentech Inc. announced 2014 financial results, reporting the company is commissioning its 45,000 metric ton Atikokan, Ontario, pellet plant and nearing the end of construction at its 450,000 metric ton Wawa, Ontario, facility. READ MORE SHARE
EPA to open comment period on pennycress oil GHG analysis The U.S. EPA has published a notice on its website inviting comment on an analysis of the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) attributable to the production and transport of pennycress oil for use in biofuel production. READ MORE SHARE
Metabolix reports PHA biopolymer expansion in year-end results Metabolix Inc. has announced financial results for the three months and full year ended Dec. 31, reporting that in late 2014 the company decided to significantly increase the pilot production capacity for Mirel polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymers. READ MORE SHARE
EIA report illustrates biofuel, bioenergy subsidies On March 12, the U.S. Energy Information Administration published a report on direct federal financial interventions and subsidies in energy for fiscal year (FY) 2103. The report responds to a request from two members of Congress. READ MORE SHARE
AEE report illustrates growth in the U.S. advanced energy market The Advanced Energy Economy recently commissioned a study completed by Navigant Research that found the U.S. advanced energy market grew by 14 percent last year, which is five times the rate of the U.S. economy overall. READ MORE SHARE
Bioenergy projects selected for CEC funding The California Energy Commission recently approved $21 million in grants for energy innovation and efficiency programs. Several bioenergy projects were among those selected for funding. READ MORE SHARE
IRS issues guidance on Section 45, Section 48 tax credits On March 11, the Internal Revenue Service published guidance pertaining to the Section 45 Production Tax Credit and Section 48 Investment Tax Credit. Legislation signed into law in late 2014 extended the credits through the end of 2014. READ MORE SHARE
Dyadic releases annual results, calls 2014 a turning point Dyadic International Inc. recently released 2014 financial results, reporting revenue of $12.5 million, down from $17.1 million the prior year. The decrease is primarily attributed to a $6 million BASF upfront license fee in 2013. READ MORE SHARE
Aria Energy begins operations at landfill gas-to-energy facility Aria Energy, a leading provider of baseload renewable energy, has announced the beginning of commercial operations and renewable energy production at Sarasota County's Central County Solid Waste Disposal Complex located in Nokomis, Florida. READ MORE SHARE
Propel launches rollout of high-performance renewable diesel Propel Fuels has launched high performance renewable diesel at its locations across northern California. The fuel uses Neste Oil's NEXBTL renewable diesel, a low-carbon renewable fuel that meets petroleum diesel specifications. READ MORE SHARE
Minnesota bill aims to create cellulosic biomass incentives Legislation pending in Minnesota aims to establish state production incentives for advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals and biomass thermal. The measure was introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Senate in February. READ MORE SHARE
Ontario Power Generation reports strong year On top of opening the largest biomass-fired power station in North America, Ontario Power Generation reported 2014 income at $568 million before extraordinary gain, a 334 percent increase compared to $135 million in 2013. READ MORE SHARE
BioEnergy Hawaii plans waste-to-energy project BioEnergy Hawaii LLC plans to develop a fully integrated resource recovery facility on the west side of Hawaii Island. The $50 million facility will incorporate state-of-the-art material handling equipment and energy conversion technology. READ MORE SHARE
Scientists harness enzymes to break down tough cell walls Researchers at the University of Toronto Bioproducts Research Lab studying ways to isolate components of plant cell walls so they can be used to create renewable fuels, high-value chemicals, and novel bio-based materials. READ MORE SHARE
Cleanergy announces first deployment of GasBox Cleanergy recently announced the first deployment of its GasBox at a waste water treatment plant. The Jesenice plant in the north west of Slovenia is now using Cleanergys combined-heat-and-power system to generate electricity and heat from methane. READ MORE SHARE
Alstom signs two more biomass contracts in the U.K. Alstom has signed two contracts with Danish power plant specialist Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor for geared reaction steam turbines (GRT) to be used in two U.K. biomass projects. READ MORE SHARE
Supercomputers help solve puzzle-like bond for biofuels One of life's strongest bonds has been discovered by a science team researching biofuels with the help of supercomputers. Their find could boost efforts to develop catalysts for biofuel production from non-food waste plants. READ MORE SHARE
Scotia Atlantic Biomass receives fiber inventory loan Viridis Energy Inc. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Scotia Atlantic Biomass Co. Ltd., has received a working capital loan of $2 million from Cornwall Investments LLC, which will be used to procure wood fiber for pellet production. READ MORE SHARE
Dragonair to fuel flight with biofuel blend Dragonair has announced that it will operate its first-ever commercial flight using a certified sustainable biofuel blend in March, highlighting its commitment, and the commitment of the Cathay Pacific Group as a whole, to sustainable development. READ MORE SHARE
Flagship Ventures invests in Red Rock Biofuels Red Rock Biofuels LLC has unveiled a strategic partnership with Flagship Ventures that sets the stage for the construction of its first commercial scale refinery in Lakeview, Oregon. As part of the partnership, Flagship will invest in Red Rock. READ MORE SHARE
Progressive Waste Solutions opens renewable natural gas facility Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. recently celebrated the official opening of its renewable natural gas facility, the largest of its kind in Canada and one of the largest in North America. The facility is located in Terrebonne, Quebec, near Montreal. READ MORE SHARE
Tempe approves ASU food waste-to-energy study The city of Tempe and Arizona State University's Global Institute of Sustainability are teaming up on a study that will analyze food waste and fats, oils and grease (FOG) to determine the feasibility of turning this material into renewable energy. READ MORE SHARE
BASF now offers biobased PolyTHF BASF has made biobased Polytetrahydrofuran 1000 (PolyTHF 1000) available for the first time. The company is now providing this intermediate to selected partners for testing various applications in a large scale. READ MORE SHARE