Biomass Week - May 17, 2017

Perdue unveils plan to reorganize USDA On May 11, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue released a plan to reorganize the USDA that creates an undersecretary for trade and agricultural affairs and eliminates the undersecretary for rural development. READ MORE SHARE
Washington law expands generation of biomass RECs On May 16, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation that allows certain older biomass power facilities to generate and sell renewable energy credits. READ MORE SHARE
	OMB reviews 2018 RFS rule On May 11, the U.S. EPA delivered its proposed rule for the 2018 Renewable Fuel Standards to the White House Office of Management and Budget. OMB review marks a final step before the proposal is released for public comment. READ MORE SHARE
Enviva reports solid operating performance Enviva Partners LP has released first quarter financial results, reporting net revenue of $122.1 million, up 13.9 percent from the same quarter of last year. Net income was $2.5 million, down from $5.5 million. READ MORE SHARE
ASABE announces project to adopt ISO wood chip fuel standard The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers has begun the process to adopt as a national standard an ISO document on wood chips used as heating fuel. READ MORE SHARE
South Korea long-term pellet offtakes unlikely, experts say While South Korea’s consumption of industrial wood pellets is growing and expected to continue, the prospect of North American producers securing long-term offtake agreements with utilities in the country in the near-term is grim, FutureMetrics said. READ MORE SHARE
EPA approves fuel pathway for REG Geismar The U.S. EPA recently approving a fuel pathway for Renewable Energy Group Inc.’s Geismar, Louisiana, biorefinery. The plant can now generate D5 advanced biofuel RINs for naphtha and LPG made from nonfood-grade corn oil. READ MORE SHARE
Capstone to upgrade New York WWTP to provide biogas power Capstone Turbine Corp. recently announced that it received an order for a C600 Signature Series microturbine to become part of an extensive upgrade for a wastewater treatment plant in upstate New York. READ MORE SHARE
BioAmber increases sales, discusses development of second plant BioAmber Inc. recently released first quarter financial results, reporting sales of bio-succinic acid increased 46 percent when compared to the same quarter of 2016, reaching $2.1 million. READ MORE SHARE
Hu Honua reaches agreement with HELCO on biomass plant Hu Honua recently announced that it has reached an agreement with Hawaii Electric Light Co. on an amended power purchase agreement (PPA). The facility could be operating by the end of next year. READ MORE SHARE
Rentech releases first quarter financial results Rentech Inc. has released first quarter financial results, reporting consolidated revenues from continuing operations of $32.2 million, down from $39.9 million during the same period of the previous year. Gross loss was $700,000. READ MORE SHARE
EIA updates short-term biomass power forecasts The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the May edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, which includes 2017 and 2018 forecasts for biomass power generation. READ MORE SHARE
To-Syn-Fuel turns sewage sludge into fuels and hydrogen To-Syn-Fuel, a project funded by Horizon 2020, EU’s new research and innovation program, recently launched. It aims to build-up, operate and demonstrate the production of synthetic fuels and green hydrogen from waste biomass. READ MORE SHARE
DOE: Biomass powers military base in upstate New York Fort Drum, a U.S. Army installation located in northern New York state and home to a 60-MW biomass power plant, is a leader in its support of the U.S. Department of Defense’s priorities to enhance energy security and the use of renewable energy. READ MORE SHARE
BETO announces third round of Small Business Vouchers Pilot The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office has announced Gevo, Cogent, Kalion, Synvitrobio and ThermChem will collaborate with national labs as part of the third round of the Small Business Vouchers Pilot. READ MORE SHARE
HKU, Kyoto U enhance efficiency of cereal straw for biofuel A collaborative research effort by the University of Hong Kong and Kyoto University has revealed a new strategy to allow cellulose in rice straw to release its fermentable sugar more efficiently. READ MORE SHARE
OSU launches new program in bioenergy and biowaste management The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute has announced a new associate of applied science program in bioenergy and biological waste management to prepare students for careers in wastewater and drinking water treatment. READ MORE SHARE
Bioplastic bags successfully biodegrade in AD facility Novamont commissioned IGlux Witzenhausen GmbH and Witzenhausen-Institut GmbH to conduct a scientific study into the behaviour of biodegradable carrier bags made from MATER-BI, the bioplastic made by Novamont, in German anaerobic digestion plants. READ MORE SHARE
KU Leuven: Bacteria take a deadly risk to survive A recent study by the Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics at KU Leuven on bacterial mutations opens up new avenues for research, ranging from more efficient biofuel production methods to a better treatment for bacterial infections and cancer. READ MORE SHARE
Smithfield highlights biogas projects in sustainability report Smithfield Foods Inc. recently announced the release of the second installment of its 16th annual sustainability report. The Environment section highlights Smithfield’s environmental leadership in key areas, including biogas production. READ MORE SHARE
BETO launches Bioenergy Career Map The Energy Department’s Bioenergy Technologies Office and Argonne National Laboratory have developed an Bioenergy Career Map, an educational tool that helps users discover traditional and nontraditional career opportunities in the bioenergy industry. READ MORE SHARE