Biomass Week - April 8, 2016

Iowa establishes PTC for renewable chemicals On April 7, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed legislation establishing a production tax credit for renewable chemicals. Branstad signed the bill at Iowa State University. Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and several stakeholders were on hand to witness the event. READ MORE SHARE
EPA SAB requests additional changes to biogenic framework The U.S. EPA's chartered Scientific Advisory Board recently conducted a quality review of the updated draft report on the accounting framework for biogenic carbon emissions. The SAB has requested additional changes be made to the draft framework. READ MORE SHARE
	BPA holds media call in advance of EPA biomass workshop On April 6, the Biomass Power Association held a media call in advance of the U.S. EPA’s June 7 workshop on biomass and the Clean Power Plan. During the call, the BPA outlined EPA actions needed to support the biomass power industry. READ MORE SHARE
Maine PUC publishes renewable energy report On March 31, the Maine Public Utilities Commission issued its annual report on the state’s renewable resource portfolio standard, reporting biomass was used to satisfy 92.22 percent of Class I requirements in 2014. READ MORE SHARE
Biofuel trade groups ask for multiyear tax credit extensions On April 5, six biofuel trade associations sent a letter to leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, Senate Committee on Finance, and House Ways and Means Committee asking for a multiyear extension of advanced biofuel tax credits. READ MORE SHARE
DOE BETO updates Multi-Year Program Plan The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office has released the 2016 update of its Multi-Year Program Plan, which serves as an operational guide to help the BETO manage and coordinate its activities. READ MORE SHARE
Biome releases 2015 financial results, bioplastics product update U.K.-based bioplastics company Biome Technologies plc has released financial results for the year ended Dec. 31, 2015, reporting significant improvement from the previous year with revenue growth of 37 percent. READ MORE SHARE
Scientists use ‘reverse photosynthesis’ to break down biomass Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have discovered a natural process they describe as reverse photosynthesis. In the process, the energy in solar rays breaks down, rather than builds plant material, as is the case with photosynthesis. READ MORE SHARE
Scientists discover an enzyme responsible for making hydrocarbons An enzyme responsible for making hydrocarbons has been discovered by Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists studying a common green microalga called Botryococcus braunii. READ MORE SHARE
Air Canada partners in biojet supply chain initiative Air Canada recently announced it will participate in Canada's Biojet Supply Chain Initiative, a three-year collaborative project with 14 stakeholder organizations to introduce 400,000 liters (105,668.82 gallons) of sustainable aviation biofuel. READ MORE SHARE
Blue Sphere to acquire Italian biogas plant Blue Sphere Corp. recently announced it has signed an exclusive term sheet to acquire a 1MW waste-to-energy biogas plant in Tortona, Italy, from Agrilandia Societa Agricola a r.l. READ MORE SHARE
Viridis Energy ceases operations at Okanagan pellet plant Viridis Energy Inc. recently announced that due to recent structural concerns at its Okanagan Pellet Co. plant and a combination of factors, it has decided to cease operations at its West Kelowna, British Columbia, plant. READ MORE SHARE
Altex, Unitel partner to demonstrate new biomass technology Altex Technologies has selected Unitel Technologies to provide engineering services to design and build a pilot system that will produce synthetic gasoline from biomass. This project is funded by a grant from the California Energy Commission. READ MORE SHARE
Waste-to-energy project planned in Tennessee Clean Energy Technologies Inc. has announced an innovative waste-to-energy system set for completion in Tennessee later this year will mark the second commercial collaboration utilizing the Clean Cycle Generator from Clean Energy Technologies. READ MORE SHARE
Prairie cordgrass offers potential for growth in poor soils Marginal land is an attractive option for biofuel feedstock production. The soil on this land is often salty, but University of Illinois researchers have found several varieties of perennial grasses that can withstand high salt concentrations. READ MORE SHARE
GE signs MOU with Cenergi SEA to advanced biogas in Malaysia GE recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Cenergi SEA Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, to collaborate in spurring the development of the biogas industry in Malaysia. READ MORE SHARE
GRFA congratulates national leadership on transport emissions The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance has sent letters to congratulate national leaders of 13 countries that highlighted biofuels as part of their intended nationally determined contribution plans at COP21 in Paris. READ MORE SHARE