Biomass Week - May 1, 2019

Biofuel groups weigh in on EPA’s E15/RIN reform proposal The comment period on U.S. EPA’s E15/RIN market reform rule closed April 29. Several biofuel trade groups filed comments in support of E15, but expressed opposition to the agency’s proposed RIN market reforms. READ MORE SHARE
Letter opposes proposed cuts to DOE’s renewable energy programs The BPA partnered with six renewable energy trade groups April 25 to send a letter to Congress opposing deep cuts in FY 2020 funding proposed by the Trump Administration for the Department of Energy's EERE, ARPA-E and NREL. READ MORE SHARE
	Smithfield Foods, RAE form Monarch Bioenergy to produce RNG Smithfield Foods Inc. and Roeslein Alternative Energy have formed a joint venture called Monarch Bioenergy to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) across Smithfield’s hog farms in Missouri using manure feedstock. READ MORE SHARE
Covanta sells 2 EfW plants, reaches financial close on UK plant Covanta Holding Corp. has shut down an energy-from-waste (EfW) plant in New Jersey, and announced plans to sell two other EfW facilities. The company also reached financial close on its U.K-based Rookery EfW project in late March. READ MORE SHARE
EPA denies requests to extend comment period on E15/RIN rule The U.S. EPA has denied two requests to extend the comment period for its proposed E15/RIN market reform rule. The agency said “extending the comment period would hinder the agency’s ability to make a decision in a timely manner.” READ MORE SHARE
Valero: Ethanol earnings down, renewable diesel sales up Valero Energy Corp. released first quarter 2019 financial results April 25, reporting significantly reduced income for its ethanol segment. The quarterly report was also the company’s first to address its newly established renewable diesel segment. READ MORE SHARE
Canada funds project to generate RNG from forest residues The Canadian government recently awarded more than $4 million to two projects that aim to create value from forest products. One project focuses on the production of RNG, while the other aims to improve the competitiveness of Indigenous businesses. READ MORE SHARE
AEG wins $500,000 grant to support North Carolina facility The North Carolina Department of Commerce recently awarded U.K.-based Active Energy Group plc a $500,000 grant to support the development of its CoalSwitch manufacturing site in Lumberton, North Carolina. READ MORE SHARE
New York opens solicitation for renewable energy projects New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the third annual solicitation for large-scale renewable energy projects under the state’s Clean Energy Standard on April 23. Bioenergy projects are among those eligible to apply. READ MORE SHARE
ABFA files for injunction against EPA to prevent additional SREs The ABFA filed a motion April 24 for a preliminary injunction to prevent EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler from granting any additional small refinery exemptions (SREs) until the resolution of its pending lawsuit against EPA. READ MORE SHARE