Pellet Mill Press - April 7, 2015

Centennial Renewable Energy to build Idaho pellet plant Centennial Renewable Energy of Idaho announced that is building a 160,000-metric-ton wood pellet plant in northern Idaho and recently signed agreements to purchase land for the project. READ MORE SHARE
New Brunswick pellet plant to double domestic volume Groupe Savoie Inc., a hardwood products supplier in New Brunswick, Canada, recently announced that it plans to double the volume dedicated to the domestic side of its pellet production at its Saint-Quentin pellet plant in the coming year. READ MORE SHARE
	DONG Energy to convert final unit at Avedore plant to biomass DONG Energy has announced the last combined-heat-and-power (CHP) unit at Avedore Power Station will be converted to biomass, making it able from to use wood pellets as fuel instead of coal starting next year. READ MORE SHARE
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
Groups laud biomass heat inclusion in federal GHG Executive Order The Biomass Thermal Energy Council and the Pellet Fuels Institute commend President Obama's commitment to expanding the use of renewable thermal energy with the issuance of Executive Order "Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade." READ MORE SHARE
Senators advocate for bioenergy appropriations in letter A group of five senators recently sent a letter to two Senate subcommittees asking them to support funding for programs that bolster the development of thermal and electric biomass energy technologies, supply chains and market opportunities. READ MORE SHARE
Viridis Energy reports strong year For Viridis Energy, 2014 was a foundation year during which the company laid the groundwork to position itself for growth anticipated over the coming years. Viridis reported a strong year, with total 2014 revenue of $28.2 million. 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
Drax Biomass appoints Peter Madden as U.S. CEO Drax Biomass has announced Peter Madden as its chief executive officer of U.S. operations. Madden has nearly 30 years' experience in the forestry industry and will play a critical leadership role as Drax's workforce and investment in the U.S. grows. READ MORE SHARE
Massachusetts announces $1 million expansion for AgEnergy grants Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker recently announced that Massachusetts farmers will soon be able to apply to the expanded Department of Agricultural Resources' AgEnergy Grant Program, thanks to new funding from the Department of Energy Resources. READ MORE SHARE
Phoenix seeks trash-to-energy solutions The city of Phoenix is calling on the private sector for responses to a request for proposals (RFP) and call for innovators (CFI) to turn trash into resources. READ MORE SHARE
Commercial port, pellet plant considered for northwest Ontario At the site of the former Norampac paper mill in Red Rock, Ontario, on Lake Superior's north shore, plans are in the works for a torrefied wood plant and commercial deep-water port for pellet exports. 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
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
Report provides insight on UK bioenergy future Bioenergy has the potential to help secure UK energy supplies, mitigate climate change, and create significant green growth opportunities if deployed effectively, according to a new report from the Energy Technologies Institute. READ MORE SHARE
Ontario invests in Rentech pellet plants Ontario is investing in two projects to help Rentech Inc., a Northern Ontario fiber company, convert two idle wood product mills into facilities that manufacture wood pellets, a sustainable energy source. The two facilities have created over 60 jobs. READ MORE SHARE
SBP Framework launched in the EU The Sustainable Biomass Partnership has launched the SBP Framework to representatives of the EU Institutions at an event in Brussels. The framework consists of standards and independent certification procedures. 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