Biomass Week - July 26, 2017

EPA SAB to review biogenic carbon framework at August meeting The U.S. EPA has announced the Scientific Advisory Board will conduct a quality review of the agency’s draft framework for assessing biogenic carbon dioxide emissions from stationary sources at a meeting in August. READ MORE SHARE
Sumitomo buys stake in Canadian wood pellet producer Wordwide general trading company Sumitomo Corp. has acquired a 48 percent stake in Canadian wood pellet producer Pacific BioEnergy Corp. The company said that is is seeking to establish a steady wood pellet supply for the long-term. READ MORE SHARE
	EPA opens comment period on RFS proposal On July 21, the U.S. EPA published its proposed rule to set 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard volume requirements in the Federal Register, officially opening a public comment period that runs through Aug. 31. READ MORE SHARE
Drax discusses future plans during investor presentation Reducing the cost of wood pellet production, finishing two capacity expansions and overhauling a recently acquired plant are just a few of the many focuses Drax CEO Dorothy Thompson discussed during the company’s recent investor presentation. READ MORE SHARE
EPA: 22.94 million cellulosic RINs generated in June The U.S. EPA has released renewable identification number (RIN) data for June, reporting 1.7 billion RINs were generated during the month, including 22.94 million cellulosic RINs. The EPA estimates 9.29 billion RINs were generated so far this year. READ MORE SHARE
USDA technology transfer report discusses biofuel research The USDA has released its annual technology transfer report, announcing its research generated 244 new inventions and 109 patent applications during fiscal year 2016. Biofuel research projects are among those discussed in the 559-page report. READ MORE SHARE
Russian pellet production, exports expected to grow The Russian Federation recently filed its annual biofuels report with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Information Network, reporting wood pellet production and exports are expected to increase by 10 percent this year. READ MORE SHARE
Trump announces nominations for 3 USDA posts President Donald Trump has announced nominations for three USDA posts, including deputy secretary and two under secretary positions. Ted McKinney has been nominated to fill the new under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs post. READ MORE SHARE
Sea-Tac moves a step closer to funding aviation biofuels Carbon reduction leaders Carbon War Room and SkyNRG join with the Port of Seattle to announce recommendations for long-term funding mechanisms that could supply all airlines at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with sustainable aviation biofuels. READ MORE SHARE
UCSC awarded $250,000 grant from U.S. Forest Service The U.S. Forest Service awarded a $250,000 grant to the Center for the Study of the Force Majeure at UC Santa Cruz. The center will use the grant to study the economic feasibility of developing an innovative forest industry cluster near Reno, Nevada. READ MORE SHARE
Fungi that evolved to eat wood offer new biomass conversion tool Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and colleagues have discovered that Basidiomycota brown rot fungi uses a non-enzymatic, chelator-mediated biocatalysis method to digest and recycle wood. READ MORE SHARE
Technology could transform microalgae into biobased chemicals Gen3Bio Inc., a Purdue Foundry-affiliated company, is developing a unique process that could more effectively and affordably transform microalgae into biobased chemicals to maximize the value of biofeedstock and reduce landfill waste. READ MORE SHARE
EBRD loan helps Ukrainian poultry producer install biomass boiler The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is providing a $5 million loan to the Ukrainian poultry producer Dniprovska Agri Group for the construction of a biomass boiler that will improve its operational and environment performance. READ MORE SHARE
Enviva releases updated Track & Trace data Enviva has released its latest proprietary Track & Trace forestry data, highlighting the company’s ongoing commitment to a sustainable and transparent supply chain. The data measures and demonstrates the company's sustainability practices. READ MORE SHARE
Praj-Gevo development agreement to enter commercialization phase Praj Industries Ltd. and Gevo Inc. have announced that Gevo’s proprietary isobutanol technology will be available for licensing to processors of sugarcane juice and molasses. The two companies entered development and licensing agreements in 2015. READ MORE SHARE
DOE: Membrane technology will improve biofuel production Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory set out to determine what could increase production speeds and improve the quality of biofuels and bioproducts. What they discovered is a new class of porous membranes. READ MORE SHARE
Study on photoprotection may benefit biofuel feedstock yield Researchers from MIT and the University of Verona have discovered how the key protein in the photoprotection process allows moss and green algae to protect themselves from too much sun. The findings could benefit biofuel feedstock development. READ MORE SHARE