Biomass Week - November 25, 2016

EPA finalizes 2017 RFS RVOs, biofuels industry applauds rule On Nov. 23, the U.S. EPA released its final rule to set 2017 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the renewable fuel standard (RFS), along with 2018 RVOs for biomass-based diesel. Several of the RVOs represent increases over proposed volumes. READ MORE SHARE
Connecticut’s first food waste biogas plant nears finish Quantum Energy plans to begin operations at a biogas plant in Connecticut by the end of the year. The fully-automated plant will take in 40,000 tons of food waste annually and generate 1.2 MW of power via low solids anaerobic digestion. READ MORE SHARE
	Comment period opens on EPA rule to update RFS, fuel regulations On Nov. 16, U.S. EPA’s proposed Renewable Enhancement and Growth Support rule was published in the Federal Register, officially opening a 60-day public comment period on the proposal. Comments are due Jan. 17. READ MORE SHARE
EPA: Comment period open on proposed point of obligation ruling The U.S. EPA has published a notice in the Federal Register proposing to deny several petitions requesting the agency redefine the point of obligation under the renewable fuel standard (RFS), officially opening a 60-day public comment period. READ MORE SHARE
CWS to buy Western Biodiesel plant, convert to renewable diesel Cielo Waste Solutions has agreed to buy the former Western Biodiesel plant in High River, Alberta, near Calgary. Once the purchase is complete, CWS plans to scale up its thermal catalytic depolymerization technology there to produce renewable diesel. READ MORE SHARE
ETI releases UK decarbonization strategy combining bioenergy, CCS The Energy Technologies Institute released a report this month highlighting the importance of combining bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) if the U.K. is to meet its 2050 greenhouse gas emission reduction targets cost-effectively. READ MORE SHARE
EPA: Cellulosic RIN generation reaches 17.79 million in October The U.S. EPA has released renewable identification number (RIN) generation data for October, reporting that nearly 1.66 billion RINs were generated during the month, including nearly 17.79 million cellulosic RINs. READ MORE SHARE
Mission Innovation launches sustainable biofuel challenge On Nov. 14, Mission Innovation Partners came together at the UN climate change conference, known as COP22, to report on developments one year from its launch. The global effort aims to double clean energy research and development. READ MORE SHARE
Renewable diesel powers Hamburg airport's heavy-duty ground fleet Renewable diesel will power heavy-duty vehicles in Hamburg airport’s ground fleet, complementing other alternative energies used on-site, making it the first major international airport to replace all fossil fuels with renewables in its entire fleet. READ MORE SHARE
Plans unveiled for waste-to-energy system in Indiana The Kroger Co.'s K.B. Specialty Foods recently broke ground on a new anaerobic wastewater treatment system at its facility in Greensburg, Indiana. The modification will turn food production byproducts into energy. READ MORE SHARE
REG to conduct strategic review of REG Life Sciences activities Renewable Energy Group's board of directors recently authorized a review of strategic alternatives for its Life Sciences subsidiary, which is developing renewable chemicals and fuels using a proprietary microbial fermentation process. READ MORE SHARE
Engineering firm warns biomass builders on cutting costs Moves to make green energy more cost-effective, by cutting corners to reduce up-front costs cheaper, can prove to be an expensive mistake, Axiom Engineering Associates, a U.K. materials engineering company, warns. READ MORE SHARE
Vega files provisional patent for G4 torrefaction machine Vega Biofuels Inc. recently announced that it has filed a provisional patent application for its generation four (G4) torrefaction machine. According to the company, the machine increases manufacturing capacity by approximately 25 percent. READ MORE SHARE
Reverdia, Xinfu sign Biosuccinium supply, collaboration agreement Reverdia has signed a strategic partnership with Hangzhou Xinfu Science & Technology Co. Ltd. The partnership represents a collaboration to adopt Biosuccinium in biobased polymers and co-polymers and a long-term supply agreement. READ MORE SHARE
Investing in the 'bioeconomy' could create jobs, reduce emissions A new article looks at the potential benefits of a Billion Ton Bioeconomy, a vision to enable a sustainable market for producing and converting a billion tons of U.S. biomass to biobased energy, fuels, and products by 2030. READ MORE SHARE
Iona acquires Dryholme Biogas from Farmgen Iona has acquired Dryholme Biogas, a 1.8 MWe anaerobic digestion plant located near Silloth, Cumbria, U.K. The facility processes dairy by-products and agricultural feedstocks. Iona plans to refurbish the plant to improve operational performance. READ MORE SHARE
Scientists study how biofuel crop reflectivity impacts climate Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have conducted a detailed study of the reflectivity effects of converting land to grow biofuel crops. READ MORE SHARE
Survey identifies more than 100 million dead trees in California The USDA recently announced that the U.S. Forest Service has identified an additional 36 million dead trees across California since its last aerial survey in May 2016. This brings the total number of dead trees since 2010 to over 102 million. READ MORE SHARE