Biomass Week - March 21, 2018

USDA solicits applications for REAP funding The USDA is soliciting applications for fiscal year 2018 Rural Energy for America Program funding. The program helps agricultural producers and rural small businesses install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. READ MORE SHARE
2018 International FEW releases technical sessions agenda The 2018 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo has released its highly anticipated agenda featuring more than 150 speakers and four comprehensive tracks. The event will be held June 11-13 in Omaha, Nebraska. READ MORE SHARE
	Senators ask Trump to dismiss RFS waiver cap, request meeting On March 15, Sens. John Thune, R-S.D.; Deb Fischer, R-Neb.; Roy Blunt, R-Mo.; Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, sent a letter to President Donald Trump opposing proposed changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard. READ MORE SHARE
Pinnacle provides update of Entwistle, Smithers pellet plants On March 15, Pinnacle Renewable Holdings Inc. released fiscal year 2017 financial results and provided an update of its planned expansion and acquisition projects. The company completed an initial public offering (IPO) on Feb. 6. READ MORE SHARE
Oklahoma cellulosic diesel facility achieves D7 Q-RIN status D7 RINs generated at a biorefinery in Oklahoma City producing cellulosic diesel fuel have been verified by Weaver and granted Q-RIN status. Envia Energy uses FT technology to convert landfill gas and natural gas into diesel fuel, naphtha and wax. READ MORE SHARE
Governors ask Trump to reject proposals that would weaken the RFS On March 15, a group of five Midwestern governors send a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to reject proposals designed to weaken the Renewable Fuel Standard, specifically those recently proposed by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. READ MORE SHARE
DuPont Tate & Lyle expands biobased propanediol production DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products LLC, a joint venture between DuPont and Tate & Lyle, recently announced an expansion to their manufacturing facility in Loudon, Tennessee, to increase annual production of biobased 1,3-propanediol by 35 million pounds. READ MORE SHARE
Better solvents improve production of biofuels, bioproducts Researchers have found a new way to measure and analyze how a solvent alters the stability of two different points of a chemical reaction, the initial state and the transition state. The findings could help improve biofuel production. READ MORE SHARE
Total Corbion PLA announces start-up of pilot plant in Thailand Total Corbion PLA has successfully started up its 1,000-ton-per-year poly lactic acid (PLA) pilot plant in Rayong, Thailand. The pilot plant started up in December 2017 and over the past two months has produced a broad range of Luminy PLA resins. READ MORE SHARE
North American biomass plant installs CETY’s waste heat generator Clean Energy Technologies Inc. announced March 20 that it has secured an order from a biomass plant in North America. The biomass plant utilizes wasted heat lost to the atmosphere through the exhaust stream to essentially produce free electricity. READ MORE SHARE
Audi, Global Energies partnership reaches key milestone Global Bioenergies and German carmaker Audi have announced that a key milestone was reached in their multi-year agreement. Renewable gasoline components made from Global Bioenergies' renewable isobutene were produced and shipped to Audi. READ MORE SHARE
Biofuel groups advocate for tax credit extensions at hearing On March 14, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing on post tax reform evaluation of recently expired tax provisions. Several representatives of the biofuels industry offered testimony at the event. READ MORE SHARE
Engineers develop tools to scale up of bio-oil production A research team at Iowa State University will study, model and develop design tools for autothermal pyrolysis, a new way to break down corn stalks, wood chips and other biomass to produce a liquid bio-oil. READ MORE SHARE
UPM Biofuels enters the bioplastics market with new partners UPM is committed to creating value from sustainable bioinnovations. In addition to renewable diesel, the UPM Lappeenranta Biorefinery produces renewable naphtha—an excellent raw material for bioplastics. READ MORE SHARE
Researchers develop methanation technology to produce RNG Researchers at the University of Waterloo are developing technology to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) from manure so it can be added to the existing energy supply system for heating homes and powering industries. READ MORE SHARE