Pellet Mill Press - July 7, 2015

New U.K. port facility to provide pellets to Drax U.K.-based Peel Ports Group has announced plans for a new biomass terminal at the Port of Liverpool that will be capable of handing up to 3 million metric tons of pellets per year. The facility will supply pellets to the Drax power station in Selby. READ MORE SHARE
Oregon declares biomass carbon neutral After a House vote of 44-9, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has signed a bill that exempts biomass-derived carbon dioxide emissions from regulation under certain air pollution laws. READ MORE SHARE
	Euronext launches wood pellet contract Euronext has announced that it will be launching a new wood pellet commodities futures contract in the autumn of 2015, subject to regulatory approval. The contract is aimed at producers, wholesalers and retailers and targets the heating sector. READ MORE SHARE
OMB weighs in on biomass language included in appropriations bill The White House Office of Management and Budget has published a statement detailing its opposition to several components of an appropriations bill pending the in the U.S. House of Representatives, including a provision related biogenic emissions. READ MORE SHARE
Bill aims to extend master limited partnerships to renewables U.S. Sens. Chris Coons, D-Del., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Reps. Ted Poe, R-Texas, and Mike Thompson, D-Calif., have announced the reintroduction of the Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act, which aims to level the playing field for renewables. READ MORE SHARE
White House aims to modernize biotechnology regulatory process On July 2, the White House issued a memo on modernizing the regulatory system for biotechnology products to heads of the U.S. EPA, USDA and U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It outlines several actions the agencies will take over the next year. READ MORE SHARE
U.K. GIB announces results, plans to raise private capital The U.K. Green Investment Bank has announced 2014-'15 results and a plan to raise private capital. The organization also noted that after 2.5 years of operations, it has reached profitability. READ MORE SHARE
Report highlights EU progress in reaching 2020 renewables goals On June 16, the European Commission published a progress report on 2020 renewable energy targets, reporting that the EU is on track to meets its 20 percent renewable energy targets. Biomass accounted for 47 percent of renewables in the EU last year. READ MORE SHARE
USDA publishes final rules on biobased products The USDA's Office of Procurement and Property Management has published final rules in the Federal Register amending regulations for the voluntary labeling program for biobased products and the designation of biobased products for federal procurement. READ MORE SHARE
AgEC: Ag appropriations bill aims to cut Energy Title funding On June 17, the House Appropriations Committee released the fiscal year 2016 Agricultural Appropriations bill. The proposed legislation funds a variety of agricultural and food programs, including rural development and farm services programs. READ MORE SHARE
DOE initiatives launch as part of Clean Energy Investment Summit The Department of Energy has announced several new and expanding initiatives as part of the administration's Clean Energy Investment Summit, including the launch of a Clean Energy Impact Investment Center. READ MORE SHARE
Bioproducts industry contributes $369 billion to U.S. economy Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the release of a new report that shows the U.S. biobased industry is generating substantial economic activity and American jobs. It builds on the "Why Biobased?" report released by the USDA in October. READ MORE SHARE
University of Louisville partners on wood-to-energy project The University of Louisville Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research has formed a partnership with a South Carolina company to accelerate commercialization of a coal-like product made from wood and biomass materials. READ MORE SHARE