Pellet Mill Press - December 15, 2015

European Commission approves state aid for Lynemouth conversion The European Commission has announced that U.K. support for the conversion of the Lynemouth power station from coal to biomass complies with EU state aid rules. The U.K. informed the EC of plans to support the conversion project in Dec. 2014. READ MORE SHARE
Enviva launches $5 million forest conservation fund Enviva Holdings LP recently announced it is establishing the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund, a $5 million, 10-year program designed to protect tens of thousands of acres of bottomland forests in northeast North Carolina and southeast Virginia. READ MORE SHARE
	Visible development underway on UK-based biomass power plant Visible progress has been made with the construction of the 41 MW Templeborough Biomass Power Plant located in Rotherham, England. The company has launched a website dedicated to the project, including a time lapse camera of developments on site. READ MORE SHARE
BTEC summit: Encouraging signs for the biomass thermal industry A large group of representatives from industry, non-profit organizations and educational institutions gathered on Nov. 18 in Washington, D.C. as part of the Biomass Thermal Energy Councils' Biomass Thermal DC Summit. READ MORE SHARE
Ontario passes bill banning coal-fired electricity generation In the days leading up to the United Nations' Conference of the Parties, Ontario passed legislation to permanently ban coal-fired electricity generation in the province. Ontario is the first to do so in North America. READ MORE SHARE
New educational opportunity for biomass heating technology Next month, a textbook is scheduled for release, written to help designers create heating systems that incorporate renewable energy heat sources. Solid fuel boilers fueled by cordwood, chips and pellets are among the heat sources discussed. READ MORE SHARE
EIA updates bioenergy forecasts in recent reports The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the December edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, providing updated predictions regarding the use of biomass in the electric power and home heating sectors. READ MORE SHARE
Bill would delay CPP implementation until additional nations act Rep. Keith Rothfus, R-Pa., recently introduce legislation that aims to prevent the Clean Power Plan for taking effect until countries accounting for at least 80 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions enact similar regulations. READ MORE SHARE
FutureMetrics responds to report criticizing wood pellets A new white paper published by FutureMetrics offers a critique of Climate Central’s recent story "Pulp Fiction," a three-part special report by John Upton that criticizes the use of wood pellets. READ MORE SHARE
House votes to block Clean Power Plan In a vote of 242-180, the U.S. House has voted to repeal the U.S. EPA’s Clean Power Plan, and through another vote of 235-188, to block EPA rules governing emissions from new power plants. President Obama has stated he plans to veto the measures. READ MORE SHARE
European Commission adopts Circular Economy Package The European Commission has announced the adoption of a new Circular Economy Package that aims to stimulate Europe's transition towards a circular economy. The effort has been criticized for its lack of mandatory food collection. READ MORE SHARE
REA: UK supports high-carbon power at expense of renewables The winners of the U.K.'s second Capacity Market Auction were released Dec. 11 and reveal the continued subsidization of polluting energy forms, side-tracking the renewable energy transition, according to the U.K. Renewable Energy Association. READ MORE SHARE
DOE to host bioenergy webinar for educators The U.S. Department of Energy has announced it will hold a live webinar titled "Integrating Bioenergy into the 9th-12th Grade Classroom," on Dec. 10. According to the DOE, the webinar is part of the BioenergizeME Office Hours webinar series. READ MORE SHARE
SaraRasa signs wood pellet off-take agreement Dovre Group Plc’s associate SaraRasa Bioindo has signed an off-take agreement with CellMark Energy. According to the agreement, Cellmark Energy will purchase a majority portion of the wood pellets produced by SaraRasa. READ MORE SHARE