Pellet Mill Press - December 20, 2016

EC approves state aid for third Drax unit conversion On Dec. 19, The European Commission announced it has determined that U.K. support for the conversion of the third generating unit of Drax Power Station from coal to biomass complies with European Union state aid rules. READ MORE SHARE
EIA begins monthly reporting of wood pellet data The U.S. Energy Information Administration has published the initial results of a new survey launched in January 2016 to gather information on wood pellets and other densified biomass production, sales and inventory. READ MORE SHARE
	Denmark's largest power station replaces coal with wood pellets For the past 18 months, Avedøre Power Station has been converting its coal-fired power station unit, and the entire combined-heat-and-power plant is now able to produce electricity and heat based on wood pellets and straw, rather than coal and gas. READ MORE SHARE
Highland Pellets commissions Arkansas pellet plant Highland Pellet’s 600,000 metric-ton wood pellet plant in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, is officially open and undergoing commissioning and is expected to be producing pellets by the end of the year. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Nov. 21. READ MORE SHARE
Trump nominates Pruitt to lead the EPA President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to serve as administrator of the U.S. EPA. His nomination is subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate. READ MORE SHARE
Trump nominates Perry to lead the Department of Energy President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Rick Perry, a former governor of Texas, to serve as Secretary of Energy. The nomination is subject to approval by the U.S. Senate. READ MORE SHARE
MESys opens pellet distribution facility in Massachusetts Nov. 18 marked the official opening of Maine Energy Systems’ wood pellet distribution facility and heating equipment showroom with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the project site in North Oxford, Massachusetts. READ MORE SHARE
Enviva Partners completes Sampson drop-down acquisition Enviva Partners LP has completed the previously announced acquisition of the Sampson plant in North Carolina and associated off-take contracts from Enviva Holdings LP’s joint venture with affiliates of John Hancock Life Insurance Co. READ MORE SHARE
EIA updates 2017 bioenergy, wood heating forecasts The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the December edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, predicting nonhydropower renewables will generate 8 percent of the nation’s electricity in 2016, increasing to 9 percent in 2017. READ MORE SHARE
ETI: Survey reveals public support for bioenergy in the UK A recent survey found strong public support for the production of bioenergy in the U.K., from both biomass and waste. Approximately 80 percent of respondents were in favor of bioenergy playing a bigger role in the country’s energy mix. READ MORE SHARE
Drax to acquire Opus Energy, 4 OCGT development projects On Dec. 6, Drax Group plc announced plans to acquire Opus Energy Group Ltd. and four open cycle gas turbine (OCGT) development projects. Drax also said it is continuing to monitor opportunities to acquire additional wood pellet plants. READ MORE SHARE
Baringa Partners appointed to lead ETI biomass logistics project The Energy Technologies Institute has appointed energy consultancy Baringa Partners to lead a project to understand the impact that decisions on technology choices and feedstock sources might have on U.K. logistics infrastructure development. READ MORE SHARE
Pinnacle, NORDEN sign contract for transport of wood pellets Dampskibsselskabet NORDEN A/S has announced a nine-year contract to transport pellets for Canada-based Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. Under the contract, NORDEN will transport wood pellets from western Canada to Europe beginning in 2018. READ MORE SHARE
BEV to invest $1 billion in clean energy technologies On Dec. 12, members of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition announced plans to invest more than $1 billion in Breakthrough Energy Ventures, an investor-led fund that will finance emerging energy breakthroughs. READ MORE SHARE