Pellet Mill Press - August 15, 2017

IWI to build Ontario sawmill paired with pellet plant International Wood Industries is moving forward with a plan to build a sawmill and colocated wood pellet mill in northeastern Ontario. The target construction date is in the spring 2018, with startup in January 2019. READ MORE SHARE
DOE, AGH launch fourth wood stove design challenge The U.S. Department of Energy has announced the launch of the fourth Wood Stove Design Challenge in partnership with the Alliance for Green Heat. Teams from around the world will compete for up to $25,000 in prizes. READ MORE SHARE
	Construction begins on New York pellet heating project The New York Power Authority, Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Police, and Adirondack Park Agency recently announced the start of construction on a wood pellet biomass boiler heating loop in Essex County, New York. READ MORE SHARE
BTEC: Testing of boiler efficiency test method to begin soon The Biomass Thermal Energy Council recently announced that validation testing of its biomass boiler efficiency protocol will begin in September at ClearStak LLC, a Connecticut-based testing laboratory. READ MORE SHARE
Report provides updated EU pellet data A report filed with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Information Network notes wood pellet production in the EU reached approximately 14.8 million metric tons in 2016, accounting for about half of global production. READ MORE SHARE
Enviva reports increased productivity from modified plants On Aug. 3, Enviva Partners LP released second quarter financial results, providing an update on efforts to modify it pellet production process to improve pellet quality. READ MORE SHARE
Legislation aims to repeal Energy Title of 2014 Farm Bill In late July, Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., introduced legislation that aims to repeal bioenergy programs contained under Title IX of the 2014 Farm Bill. A total of 10 programs, including the Rural Energy for America Program, would be eliminated. READ MORE SHARE
U.K. releases 2016 energy statistics The United Kingdom is currently ahead of its renewable energy targets laid out in the 2009 European Union Renewable Energy Directive, according to the U.K. Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy’s Digest of UK Energy Statistics. READ MORE SHARE
Rentech: Challenges continue in second quarter On Aug. 10, Rentech released second quarter financial results, reporting the quarter continued to be challenging. During an investor call, Keith Forman, president and CEO of Rentech, discussed factors resulting in lower quarterly revenues. READ MORE SHARE
EIA updates short-term bioenergy forecasts in August STEO The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the August edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, predicting electricity generation from renewable sources will reach 1.857 million MWh per day in 2017, falling to 1.836 MWh per day in 2018. READ MORE SHARE
DOE biomass technical advisory committee to meet in August The U.S. Department of Energy has announced an open meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee Aug. 15-16 in Los Angeles, California. READ MORE SHARE
Researchers help Idaho find a use for tainted alfalfa A collaboration between the state of Idaho and Idaho National Laboratory could help turn 6,000 tons of alfalfa containing elevated levels of bromide into biopower used for industrial heat and electricity. READ MORE SHARE