Biomass Week - May 22, 2019

SoCalGas moves forward with dairy biomethane projects Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) announced May 16 the utility has received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission to begin the next phase in construction of four new dairy biomethane projects in California. READ MORE SHARE
EPA delivers RFS ‘reset’ rule to OMB The U.S. EPA delivered its proposed Renewable Fuel Standard “reset” rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget May 20. OMB review marks a final step before a proposed rule is released for public comment. READ MORE SHARE
	Burgess BioPower wins grant for thermal energy recovery system Burgess BioPower was recently awarded $500,000 in grant funding from the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission to build a thermal energy recovery system to beneficially utilize energy from Burgess’ steam condenser cooling water circuit. READ MORE SHARE
Senate Finance Committee taskforce to examine energy tax credits Leaders of the Senate Finance Committee announced the formation of several bipartisan taskforces May 16 to examine 42 temporary tax provisions that expired or will expire by the end of 2019, including those related to biofuels and bioenergy. READ MORE SHARE
EPA misleads on reason for SRE policy change The U.S. EPA reportedly changed its small refinery exemption (SRE) evaluation process at least four months before a 2017 court ruling the agency often cites as the reason for its changed process. The policy change has financially benefited refiners. READ MORE SHARE
California funds biofuel, renewable gas demonstration projects The California Energy Commission has approved $11 million for clean energy demonstration projects, including those for biofuels, renewable gas and microgrids. One project focuses on catalytic biogas reforming, while two others focus on gasification. READ MORE SHARE
Court rejects ABFA request for injunction on SREs A court on May 17 denied a motion filed the ABFA last month seeking a preliminary injunction preventing the EPA from granting any additional small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the RFS until its pending lawsuit with the agency is resolved. READ MORE SHARE
CARB: Cleaner fuels offset 3 billion gallons of diesel under LCFS New 2018 data from the California Air Resources Board indicates that, to date, the state's LCFS has replaced 3.3 billion gallons of diesel with cleaner fuels. The data also shows fuel producers are in 100 percent compliance with the LCFS. READ MORE SHARE
Hawaii Supreme Court rejects PPA between HELCO, biomass plant The Hawaii Supreme Court issued a ruling May 10 rejecting a power purchase agreement (PPA) between Hawaii Electric Light Co. and Hu Honua, developer of a 21.5 MW biomass power plant under construction on the big island of Hawaii. READ MORE SHARE
Atlantic Power to acquire ownership interest in 2 biomass plants Atlantic Power Corp. announced May 15 that it has executed an agreement to acquire equity ownership interests in two biomass plants, including North Carolina-based Craven County Wood Energy and Michigan-based Grayling Generating Station. READ MORE SHARE