Biomass Week - February 5, 2016

Energy Bill amendments aim to impede biofuels, benefit bioenergy The U.S. Senate is currently considering the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015. To date, lawmakers have introduced more than 275 amendments to the bill, including several that would impact biofuels and bioenergy. READ MORE SHARE
FERC: US added 305 MW of biomass capacity in 2015 The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Office of Energy Projects has released its energy infrastructure update for December, reporting the U.S. added 305 MW of biomass capacity last year, up from 270 MW in 2014. READ MORE SHARE
	Kingdom Pellet plans Vermont plant Vermont-based Kingdom Pellet plans to build a 30,000-ton-per-year pellet plant at the site of a former paper mill in the state’s Northeast Kingdom. The project was awarded some tax incentives through the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive program. READ MORE SHARE
Drax: Further details of EU investigation now available The EU recently published additional details pertaining to its in-depth investigation to assess whether the U.K.’s plans to support the conversion of an additional unit of the Drax power plant to operate on biomass are in line with state aid rules. READ MORE SHARE
Biofuels industry speaks out following results of Iowa caucus On Feb. 1, the Iowa caucus officially kicked off the primary election season. Twelve of the 14 candidates who participated in the Iowa caucus are supportive of the renewable fuel standard (RFS). READ MORE SHARE
Chinese group to invest nearly $3 billion in 2 UK biomass plants Chinese investment group SinoFortone recently confirmed £2 billion ($2.9 billion) to back two biomass plants and associated food production centers in Wales, England. The food stations will use waste heat from the biomass plants to grow food. READ MORE SHARE
EBA promotes further use of biogas in EU heating, cooling sector Last month, the European Biogas Association released a position paper that strongly supports the European Commission’s plans to establish a common EU strategy for the heating and cooling sector. READ MORE SHARE
New report reveals how Clean Power Plan can reduce electric bills Synapse Energy Economics Inc., a research and consulting firm, recently released a new report that reveals how EPA’s Clean Power Plan can reduce emissions and consumer electric bills. READ MORE SHARE
European Biogas Association releases biogas, biomethane report The European Biogas Association published its Biogas and Biomethane Report 2015, the fifth edition of this annual statistical report. The report reflects the record-high growth in the number of plants and production in Europe. READ MORE SHARE
EPA rulemaking aims to update GHG reporting requirements The U.S. EPA has published a proposed rule that aims to amend specific provisions in the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule, including some provisions related to biogas and ethanol. Comments are due Feb. 29. READ MORE SHARE
Gevo signs licensing, joint development agreements with Porta Gevo Inc. recently announced that it has entered into a license agreement and a joint development agreement with Porta Hnos S.A. to construct multiple isobutanol plants in Argentina using corn as a feedstock. READ MORE SHARE
Brigg Renewable Energy Plant completed ahead of schedule The commissioning phase of the U.K.-based Brigg Renewable Energy Plant has recently been completed and the renewable energy plant has been handed over to the owners for the operational phase to commence. READ MORE SHARE
Making waste products more powerful at OSU Ajay Kumar, associate professor in Oklahoma State University's Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, is leading a team of researchers in a project to use local biomass materials to create portable power. READ MORE SHARE
UK Green Investment Bank to establish a special share The U.K. government recently announced that the U.K. Green Investment Bank will create a “special share” in the company as part of the process to introduce private capital to the organization. READ MORE SHARE
Sustane Technologies wins seed investment from Innovacorp Sustane Technologies, a Chester, Nova Scotia-based company that turns municipal waste into fuel pellets and biofuels is receiving a $100,000 seed investment from Innovacorp to take its technology to market. READ MORE SHARE
AVA Biochem adds biobased FDCA to its product portfolio AVA Biochem is expanding its product portfolio to include platform chemical FDCA (2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid). Furan derivatives produced from renewable carbohydrates are some of the most important next-generation platform chemicals. READ MORE SHARE
Study: Increased switchgrass acreage could improve water quality Argonne National Laboratory has released a study funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office that examines the potential effects of future biofuel production on freshwater resources in the Missouri River Basin. READ MORE SHARE
Virent announces strategic collaboration with Tesoro Virent has entered into a new strategic relationship with Tesoro to accelerate the development and commercialization of Virent’s BioForming technology to produce cost effective, low-carbon, drop-in, biobased fuels and chemicals. READ MORE SHARE
EBRD helps Ukrainian city launch biogas production The West Ukrainian city of Lviv is installing a biogas plant for the generation of heat and power with support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and several other organizations. READ MORE SHARE