Biomass Week - July 4, 2018

Senate passes 2018 Farm Bill On June 28, the U.S. Senate passed its version of the 2018 Farm Bill with a strong bipartisan 86-11 vote. The legislation, titled “The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018,” includes mandatory funding for Energy Title programs. READ MORE SHARE
Lawmakers ask EPA to approve RFS pathway for biomass power A bipartisan delegation of California lawmakers is urging the U.S. EPA to resolve any issues that prevent biomass and waste-to-energy pathways from receiving the same level of support as other forms of energy under the Renewable Fuel Standard. READ MORE SHARE
	EPA schedules hearing on proposed RFS rule for July 18 The U.S. EPA has announced it will hold a public hearing in Ypsilanti, Michigan, July 18 to gather public input on its proposed rule to set 2019 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the RFS, along with the 2020 RVO for biomass-based diesel. READ MORE SHARE
EIA proposes to extend, update densified biomass fuel reporting The U.S. Energy Information Administration has filed a notice in the Federal Register requesting a three-year extension of data collection related to its monthly Densified Biomass Fuel Report, along with certain changes to the collection form. READ MORE SHARE
Biofuel industry criticizes EPA’s triennial report On June 29, the U.S. EPA released its second report to Congress on the environmental and resource conservation impacts of the Renewable Fuel Standard program, as required by the Energy Independence and Security Act. READ MORE SHARE
EIA: 600,000 tons of densified biomass fuel sold in March The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently released data showing that U.S. manufacturers produced approximately 650,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in March, with sales reaching 600,000 tons during the month. READ MORE SHARE
Pinnacle announces new off-take contracts in South Korea, Japan On June 27, Canadian pellet producer Pinnacle Renewable Holdings Inc. announced that it has entered into two new long-term, take-or-pay off-take contracts with customers in South Korea and Japan. READ MORE SHARE
Hennepin County opens RFQ for anaerobic digestion companies Hennepin County, Minnesota, has issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) soliciting submissions from entities engaged in the anaerobic digestion of commercial and/or residential source-separated organic materials to produce energy. READ MORE SHARE
Buena Vista biomass power plant to be sold at auction The assets of Buena Vista Biomass Power plant are set to be sold at auction in July, according to information released by Mass Companies. The 18 MW facility is located in Ione, California. The deadline for offers is July 19. READ MORE SHARE
TEP opens RFI on biomass generation technologies, opportunities Tucson Electric Power is seeking information about forest biomass generation systems that could generate power for customers while improving the health of Arizona forests. READ MORE SHARE
Study: Biodiversity improves stability of algal biofuel systems A diverse mix of species improves the stability and fuel-oil yield of algal biofuel systems, as well as their resistance to invasion by outsiders, according to the findings of a federally funded outdoor study by University of Michigan researchers. READ MORE SHARE
Saipem signs MOU with California Ethanol & Power Saipem has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) as well as an exclusive agreement with California Ethanol & Power LLC for the realization of a low carbon emission plant for the production of ethanol, electricity, biomethane and other products. READ MORE SHARE
Land O'Lakes, CalBio partner to advance ‘barn to biogas’ Land O’Lakes Inc. and California Bioenergy LLC have launched a first-of-its-kind collaboration to support the financing, installation and management of on-farm methane digesters to generate renewable compressed natural gas fuel in California. READ MORE SHARE
New catalyst upgrades carbon dioxide to fuels found by USTC A research team has uncovered a catalysis strategy intermediates during CO2 electrochemical reduction reaction, which sheds new lights on upgrading CO2 to engine fuels, such as ethanol and n-propanol. READ MORE SHARE
NREL: Novel genetic method improves efficiency of enzyme Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the University of Georgia developed a new genetic engineering technique to dramatically improve an enzyme’s ability to break down biomass. READ MORE SHARE
Forest Concepts wins DOE funding to improve biomass handling Forest Concepts LLC has been awarded a $1.8 million cooperative agreement from the Department of Energy to address the critical issues of poor flowability, high friction, and highly variable physical properties that have plagued the biomass industry. READ MORE SHARE