Pellet Mill Press - July 2, 2019

UK law commits to net-zero emissions, REA says BECCS is needed The U.K. officially established a law June 27 requiring net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Earlier in the week, the U.K. REA released a paper outlining the role biorenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS) can play in meeting that goal. READ MORE SHARE
EPA finalizes ACE rule, biomass co-firing not a compliance option The EPA released its final rule for its Affordable Clean Energy program June 19. The program replaces the Clean Power Plan and aims to reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants. Biomass co-firing is not a compliance option under the ACE rule. READ MORE SHARE
	FutureMetrics criticizes treatment of biomass in EPA’s ACE rule FutureMetrics has released a statement criticizing the U.S. EPA’s Affordable Clean Energy Program for its treatment of biomass and calling the program’s discussion of how to measure CO2 emissions “misguided.” READ MORE SHARE
FuelCell Energy, Drax announce new carbon capture project FuelCell Energy Inc. announced June 27 it has entered into a contract with Drax Power Station for an application of its carbon capture solution. Drax secured £500,000 ($633,503) in government funding to support the project. READ MORE SHARE
USDA: Wood pellet exports reach nearly 425,000 tons in April The U.S. exported 424,680.5 tons of wood pellets in April, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on June 6. Exports volumes were down from both the prior month and the same period of the previous year. READ MORE SHARE
EDA-funded infrastructure improvements to aid Enviva pellet plant The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration is awarding $1.4 million to a project in Lucedale, Mississippi, that will benefit a proposed 1.4-million-metric-ton-per-year wood pellet plant under development by Enviva. READ MORE SHARE
Reitsma to lead US development projects for Pinnacle Pinnacle Renewable Energy has announced that effective July 2 the company's President and Chief Operating Officer Leroy Reitsma will be transitioning from his current role to focus solely on Pinnacle's U.S. development projects. READ MORE SHARE
Bill aims to extend biofuel, bioenergy tax credits through 2020 Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., introduced the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2019 on June 18. The bill extends several biofuel- and bioenergy-related tax credits through 2020. The legislation was scheduled for markup on June 20. READ MORE SHARE
DOE announces open meeting of biomass R&D advisory committee The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced June 24 plans to hold an open meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee on June 26 in Missoula, Montana. READ MORE SHARE
Wehrum leaves EPA, Isdal becomes deputy assistant administrator U.S. EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation William Wehrum will leave his post at the agency at the end of June. Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Anne Idsal will become acting assistant administrator for air and radiation. READ MORE SHARE