Biomass Week - June 14, 2017

NYSERDA, NYPA issue record renewable energy RFP The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and New York Power Authority have issued requests for proposals (RFP) for up to 2.5 million megawatt-hours of renewable power, totaling the largest renewable RFP issued by any state. READ MORE SHARE
Opinion: Setting the record straight on the Paris Agreement Even though President Trump has chosen to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, U.S. pellet producers will still be able to participate in mitigating the negative impacts of climate change by continuing to supply wood pellets to Europe. READ MORE SHARE
	Senators ask EPA to explain Icahn’s role in shaping the RFS On June 6, a group of five senators sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt requesting any information the agency has on Carl Icahn’s role in crafting policy and regulations at the EPA, particularly regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard. READ MORE SHARE
Hazlett selected to lead USDA Rural Development agencies Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has named Anne Hazlett to lead USDA’s Rural Development agencies. Hazlett, who’s title will be assistant to the secretary for Rural Development, will report directly to Perdue. READ MORE SHARE
NCGA contest seeks new ways to produce chemicals from corn The National Corn Growers Association and NineSigma have launched a global competition to identify new uses for field corn as a renewable feedstock for chemical production. Entries are due Sept. 28. READ MORE SHARE
Enviva’s Cottondale plant idle less than 1 day following fire A June 10 fire at Enviva’s pellet plant in Cottondale, Florida, resulted in minor damages, but the plant resumed operations at full capacity later that day. The fire occurred in a conveyor belt. READ MORE SHARE
EIA updates short-term bioenergy forecasts The U.S. Energy Infrastructure Administration has released the June edition of Short-Term Energy Outlook, predicting nonhydropower renewables will provide 9 percent of U.S. electricity generation in 2017, increasing to nearly 10 percent in 2018. READ MORE SHARE
ElectraTherm generates biomass power in Maryland ElectraTherm recently shipped a Power-plus Generator 4400 to Maryland, where it will utilize waste heat to generate emission-free electricity. This is the first application of its kind to cleanly burn chicken manure to generate clean energy. READ MORE SHARE
Researchers aim to reduce cost, time of algae biofuel production Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Marine Sciences Laboratory in Sequim, Washington, are working to lower the cost of producing biofuels from algae by utilizing an indoor system that mimics the conditions of outdoor ponds. READ MORE SHARE
Resynergi creates energy from plastic waste, biomass California waste recovery company Resynergi Inc. is drawing on University of Minnesota expertise and technology to develop and commercially manufacture a biorefining technology that converts both plastic and biomass into oil and gas. READ MORE SHARE
Cornell engineers transform food waste into green energy In a classic tale of turning trash into treasure, two different processes soon may be the favored dynamic duo to turn food waste into green energy, according to a new Cornell-led study in the journal Bioresource Technology. READ MORE SHARE
Veolia awarded O&M contract for North Carolina biomass facility Through a $9 million annual operations and maintenance contract with North Carolina Renewable Power–Lumberton LLC, Veolia Energy Operating Services LLC will manage a cogeneration plant that plant that converts poultry litter and wood chips to energy. READ MORE SHARE
VTT expands its bio and circular economy pilot center VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland will expand the operation of the Bioruukki pilot center located in Espoo, from thermochemistry to novel ways of biomass utilization, recycling of textile fibers and green chemistry technologies. READ MORE SHARE
Researchers use low-temperature AD to produce energy, fertilizer Concordia University researchers have demonstrated the viability of using anaerobic digestion in a low-temperature (20 degrees Celsius) environment to convert solid food waste into renewable energy and organic fertilizer. READ MORE SHARE
DLR and Lufthansa Technik investigate aviation biofuels Researchers at the German Aerospace Center, Lufthansa Technik and the Bundeswehr Research Institute for Materials, Fuels and Lubricants, recently investigated the chemical and physical properties promising biofuels in an airline turbine. READ MORE SHARE