Biomass Week - September 23, 2016

Lockheed Martin opens advanced bioenergy plant in New York Lockheed Martin opened a new bioenergy facility in Owego, New York, at a ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 21. The system, which is now completing commissioning, uses Concord Blue’s advanced technology that will convert waste into renewable energy. READ MORE SHARE
Energy, ag, business groups push for tax credit extensions More than 50 groups in the energy, agriculture, transportation and other business sectors have banded together to pressure Congress for a multiyear extension of tax provisions set to expire at the end of the year. READ MORE SHARE
	Brown signs bill that encourages renewable gas production On Sept. 19, California. Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed legislation that establishes the nation’s toughest restrictions of destructive super pollutants, including black carbon, fluorinated gases and methane. READ MORE SHARE
EPA: 15.63 million cellulosic RINs generated in August The U.S. EPA has released renewable identification number (RIN) data for August, reporting more than 1.76 billion RINs were generated during the month, including nearly 15.63 million cellulosic RINs. READ MORE SHARE
Navy tests 100-percent advanced biofuel Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus' energy vision came to fruition in September when the EA-18G "Green Growler" completed flight testing of a 100-percent advanced biofuel at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. READ MORE SHARE
Policy Exchange releases report on decarbonizing UK domestic heat The U.K.-based Renewable Heat Association announced the renewables industry supports conclusions of the Policy Exchange’s recent report on decarbonizing the U.K. heating sector, particularly the future role of biomethane in this effort. READ MORE SHARE
Bill includes 2-year extension of tax credit for renewable diesel In mid-September, Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn., introduced legislation that aims to extend tax credits for renewable diesel and biodiesel for two years, through 2018. The credits are currently set to expire at the end of 2016. READ MORE SHARE
EPA finalizes reconsidered issues in Area Source Boilers Rule EPA finalized its ruling on reconsidered issues that pertained to aspects of the February 2013 final amendments to the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Area Sources: Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Boilers. READ MORE SHARE
BIO releases report on renewable chemical progress, opportunities The Biotechnology Innovation Organization recently released a report documenting substantial, ongoing growth in the renewable chemical industry and outlining federal and state policies that support the industry. READ MORE SHARE
Weltec reveals slurry, digestate process to reduce volume by half Weltec Biopower announced it’s offering a slurry and digestate processing system called Kumac to livestock owners and biogas plant operators. The fully automated processing system reduces the volume of liquid manure and digestate by 50 percent. READ MORE SHARE
Cooper Tire reports progress in developing guayule polymer Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. recently announced that its scientists have reached a key milestone toward the goal of producing, by mid-2017, a concept tire in which all of the natural and synthetic rubber is replaced by guayule-based polymers. READ MORE SHARE
Biomass terminal construction celebrates milestone Graham Construction is celebrating after recording 1 million man hours free of any RIDDOR notifiable incidents while building the biomass terminal at the Port of Liverpool for its client Peel Ports. READ MORE SHARE
Snow Timber Pellets qualifies into PFI Standards Program The Pellet Fuels Institute recently announced the qualification of pellet fuel manufacturer Snow Timber Pellets of Hurley, Wisconsin, into the Pellet Fuels Institute Standards Program by accredited auditing agency Timber Products Inspection. READ MORE SHARE
JetBlue, SB Preston sign renewable jet fuel purchase agreement JetBlue recently announced a 10-year renewable jet fuel purchase agreement with SG Preston, a bioenergy company. The airline is partnering with SG Preston to purchase renewable jet fuel made from renewable, biobased feedstocks. READ MORE SHARE
USDA ARS: Tapping sorghum's genetic potential A USDA Agricultural Research Service plant geneticist has developed new genetic resources that allow the breeding of sorghum varieties with higher grain yields and greater resistance to diseases and pests. READ MORE SHARE
Jet fuel may be grown on iconic Aussie gum trees Australian National University scientists are a step closer to using Australia's iconic gum trees, also known as eucalyptus, to develop low-carbon renewable jet and missile fuel. READ MORE SHARE
Enerkem CEO receives 2017 Clean16 sustainability award Enerkem Inc., a waste-to-biofuels and chemicals producer based in Canada, is pleased to announce that Vincent Chornet has been named in the prestigious 2017 Clean16 awards by the Delta Management Group and the Clean50 organization. READ MORE SHARE
EC approves state aid for bioenergy CHP project in Lithuania The European Commission has approved support for a combined-heat-and-power (CHP) plant in Vilnius, Lithuania, under European Union state aid rules. The facility will generate electricity for the power grid and heat for a district heating system. READ MORE SHARE
Sandia: Turning ubiquitous lignin into high-value chemicals Lignin has frustrated scientists for years. With the help of an unusual soil bacteria, Sandia National Laboratories researchers believe they now know how to crack open lignin, which could transform the economics of biofuel and ethanol production. READ MORE SHARE
KPA Unicon, Renewa join forces in Europe Two Finnish energy solution suppliers are joining forces through a merger in which KPA Unicon Group Oy is purchasing the entire share capital of Renewa Oy. The parties aim to finalize the acquisition by the end of September. READ MORE SHARE
PFI changes PFI Standards Program labeling system Pellet Fuels Institute has announced a change in the labeling system for its PFI Standards Program to accommodate the common practice of private labeling. The change allows the pellet producer to request an additional registration number. READ MORE SHARE
Borregaard invests in ethanol plant upgrade Borregaard has decided to invest NOK 63 million ($7.61 million) in a project that includes an upgrade of the bioethanol plant and a facility to capture and store biogas. Construction is expected to start during the second half of 2016. READ MORE SHARE
Lux: Biobased materials, chemicals offer performance advantages Despite a checkered past, biobased materials and chemicals (BBMC) today offer a clear value proposition when compared with their petro-based counterparts, but smart business execution is critical to eventual success, according to Lux Research. READ MORE SHARE