Biomass Week - January 6, 2017

PGE Boardman station biomass test burns extend into 2017 Portland General Electric’s plans to conduct a 24-hour, full-scale biomass test burn at its 550-MW Boardman Power Station in Boardman, Oregon, have changed a bit, but are still moving forward. READ MORE SHARE
EPA denies petition filed by Biogenic CO2 Coalition The U.S. EPA has denied a petition for reconsideration of its finding that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from aircraft cause or contribute to air pollution that may be reasonably anticipated to endanger public health and welfare. READ MORE SHARE
	EPA may revoke ability of Genscape to verify RINS On Jan. 4, the U.S. EPA issued a notice of intent to revoke the ability of Genscape to verify renewable identification numbers (RINs) under the renewable fuel standard (RFS) quality assurance program (QAP). READ MORE SHARE
AFPM petitions EPA to waive portion of 2016 cellulosic RVO On Dec. 28, the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers filed a petition with the U.S. EPA asking the agency to waive the 2016 renewable fuel standard (RFS) cellulosic volume obligation, citing a shortfall in 2016 cellulosic production. READ MORE SHARE
DOE announces 8 Co-Optima initiative awards The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced plans to award $7 million to eight universities under the Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines (Co-Optima) initiative. READ MORE SHARE
Senators discuss biofuels with Pruitt On Jan. 5, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, hosted a meeting with several Midwest senators and Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, President-elect Trump’s nominee to serve as administrator of the U.S. EPA. READ MORE SHARE
USDA: Incentives available for drop-in biofuel delivered to Navy The USDA Commodity Credit Corp. has announced funding is available to pay a biofuel production incentive (BPI) under the Farm-to-Fleet program to companies producing drop-in biofuels from certain feedstocks. READ MORE SHARE
Grassley to host meeting with Pruitt, Midwest senators Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has announced plans to host a meeting on Jan. 5 with Scott Pruitt, President-elect Trump’s nominee to head the U.S. EPA, and senators from states with significant jobs and investments in biofuels. READ MORE SHARE
Global Bioenergies announces plans to acquire Syngip Global Bioenergies recently signed a contribution agreement with the shareholders of Syngip B.V. to transfer all Syngip shares to Global Bioenergies S.A. The company has developed a process to convert gaseous carbon sources into chemicals. READ MORE SHARE
SkyNRG, Fly Green Fund, Swedavia supply biojet to Swedish airport Swedavia has received its first sustainable aviation fuel at Stockholm Arlanda Airport. It marks the start of deliveries of sustainable aviation fuel through the Fly Green Fund and demonstrates Swedavia’s commitment to sustainable aviation. READ MORE SHARE
Potential biofuel crops in Hawaii may sequester carbon in soil Two potential biofuel crops in Hawaii, sugarcane and napiergrass, may sequester more carbon in soil than is lost to the atmosphere, according to a study published Jan. 4 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE. READ MORE SHARE
Lux: VCs invest $5.8 billion in biobased chemicals In 2016, synthetic biology startups raised 53 percent of all VC funding in biobased materials and chemicals, as venture firms flock to technology platforms such as DNA synthesis-as-a-service, says Lux Research. READ MORE SHARE
GB Railfreight announces contract with Lynemouth Power GB Railfreight (GBRf), one of the largest rail freight operators in the U.K., has announced it has signed a rail haulage contract with Lynemouth Power Ltd. following a successful tender submission. READ MORE SHARE
LanzaTech awarded DOE funding for biofuel demonstration facility LanzaTech has been selected by the Department of Energy to receive a $4 million award to design and plan a demonstration-scale facility using industrial off gases to produce 3 million gallons per year of low carbon jet and diesel fuels. READ MORE SHARE
Bio-on signs agreement for PHAs bioplastic Bio-on recently signed a new multi-license contract worth 55 million euro with a major multinational company and leader in its sector. The client aims to to replace conventional plastic with biodegradable biopolymers within the next three years. READ MORE SHARE