Biomass Week - August 23, 2017

Macquarie completes acquisition of GIB A consortium led by Macquarie, an Australian-based bank, has completed the acquisition of the U.K. Green Investment Bank Ltd. from the British government for £2.3 billion ($2.96 billion). GIB will now operate under the name Green Investment Group. READ MORE SHARE
Tidwell to retire, Tooke named as new Forest Service chief U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell has announced his retirement, effective Sept. 1. He has served at the post since June 2009. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced Tony Tooke will take over as chief following Tidwell’s retirement. READ MORE SHARE
	EIA: 500,000 tons of densified biomass fuel produced in May The U.S. Energy Information Administration has announced domestic sales of densified biomass fuel reached 80,000 tons in May, averaging $142.99 per ton, while exports for April reached 350,000 tons, averaging $135.12 per ton. READ MORE SHARE
Arizona studying bioenergy for wildfire management The Arizona Corporation Commission has ordered Arizona Public Service to evaluate forest bioenergy as part of its resource portfolio. The Arizona Corporation Commission will host its first workshop on the topic of forest bioenergy on Oct. 19. READ MORE SHARE
EPA: 20.36 million cellulosic RINs generated in July The U.S. EPA has released renewable identification number (RIN) generation data for July, reporting more than 1.67 billion RINs were generated during the month, including nearly 20.36 million cellulosic RINs. READ MORE SHARE
Biofuel groups urge EPA to set stronger cellulosic RFS targets The American Biogas Council, Advanced Biofuels Business Council, Biotechnology Innovation Organization and Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas are urging the U.S. EPA to set strong cellulosic targets in the 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard rule. READ MORE SHARE
Colorado approves waste diversion goals The Colorado Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission has approved statewide waste division goals, aiming to achieve a 45 percent diversion rate by 2036. Waste diversion is defined to include recycling, composting and anaerobic digestion. READ MORE SHARE
Algae cultivation technique could advance biofuels Washington State University researchers have developed a way to grow algae more efficiently, in days instead of weeks, and make the algae more viable for several industries, including biofuels. READ MORE SHARE
SynTech Bioenergy announces distributorship in Japan Denver-based SynTech Bioenergy has announced the formation of its Japanese distributorship in Tokyo under the name SynTech Japan Co. LTD. SynTech Japan is now the exclusive distributor of BioMax units in Japan. READ MORE SHARE
Farmers Union to power transition to homegrown renewable energy National Farmers Union has begun an initiative to advance federal policies that support homegrown and home-produced renewable energy sources. NFU hired veteran energy, environment and agriculture policy specialist Anne Steckel to lead the effort. READ MORE SHARE
Metsä Group starts up bioproduct mill in Finland Metsä Group’s next-generation bioproduct mill in Äänekoski, Finland, came into operation as planned on Aug. 15. The facility will produce several products, including pulp, biogas and biofuel pellets from sludge. READ MORE SHARE
Vertimass completes intermediate technology validation with DOE Vertimass LLC recently announced completion of intermediate technology validation from the U.S. Department of Energy's Bioenergy Technology Office. The company believes BETO verification paves the way for it to move to the demonstration scale. READ MORE SHARE
Glennmont Partners completes refinancing of UK biomass plant Glennmont Partners has successfully completed the refinancing of the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant. Sleaford REP is a 40 MWe straw-fired biomass plant located in Lincolnshire, U.K., that has been in operation since 2014. READ MORE SHARE
RNG Coalition welcomes federal affairs manager The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas has added Sanjay Srikantiah as its new federal affairs manager in Washington, D.C. He will further strengthen the RNG Coalition's advocacy and education efforts on behalf of the North American RNG industry. READ MORE SHARE
Air BP announces third biojet-supplied location at Bergen Airport Air BP, the international aviation fuel products and service supplier, is now offering commercial jet biofuel (biojet) to customers at Bergen airport in Norway (BGO/ENBR). The first batch was delivered to the airport on Aug. 16. READ MORE SHARE