Biomass Week - August 22, 2018

EPA proposes ACE rule as replacement for Clean Power Plan On Aug. 21, the U.S. EPA released a proposed rule to create the Affordable Clean Energy program, which aims to establish emissions guidelines for states to develop plans to address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from existing coal-fired power plants. READ MORE SHARE
Drax completes fourth biomass unit conversion Drax has switched on its fourth biomass generating unit. Work got under way on the conversion as part of a planned maintenance program in June, with Drax’s team of engineers completing the work required, on schedule, in just over two months. READ MORE SHARE
	More than 290,000 comments filed on 2019 RFS proposal The public comment period on the U.S. EPA’s proposed rule to set 2019 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard, along with the 2020 RVO for biomass based diesel, closed Aug. 17. READ MORE SHARE
Ag groups urge Congress to quickly complete work on Farm Bill More than 150 ag groups and businesses sent a letter to leaders of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and House Committee on Agriculture urging them to complete work on the 2018 Farm Bill before the Agricultural Act of 2014 expires on Sept. 30. READ MORE SHARE
Grassley: EPA not pursuing plan to attach RINs to biofuel exports The U.S. EPA is no longer considering a plan would allow renewable identification numbers (RINs) to be applied to exported volumes of biofuels, according to remarks made by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, during an Aug. 15 press call. READ MORE SHARE
USDA solicits applications for REAP funding The USDA is soliciting fiscal year 2019 applications for the Rural Energy for America Program, which helps agricultural producers and rural small businesses install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. READ MORE SHARE
Report provides data on Russian wood pellet production, trade A report recently filed with the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service’s Global Agricultural Information Network provides an update of wood pellet production in Russia, predicting continued growth in the country’s pellet industry. READ MORE SHARE
UK government releases 2017 renewable energy statistics The U.K. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy recently released updated energy statistics, reporting that electricity generation from renewable sources increased by 19 percent between 2016 and 2017, reaching 99.3 terawatt hours. READ MORE SHARE
Metsä Group’s bioproduct mill reaches full production capacity Metsä Group has announced its next-generation bioproduct mill in Äänekoski, Finland, reached full production capacity in August. The facility produces a variety of products, including pulp, biogas and biofuel pellets. READ MORE SHARE
Xebec to deploy NRU at US landfill gas project Xebec Adsorption Inc. recently announced that it has received a multi-million dollar landfill gas upgrading order for a nitrogen rejection unit (NRU) from a U.S. based customer. The system will be delivered during the first quarter of next year. READ MORE SHARE