Biomass Week - August 28, 2019

Comment period on proposed 2020 RFS RVOs closes Aug. 30 Those who wish to weigh in on the U.S. EPA’s proposed rule to set 2020 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard and the 2021 RVO for biomass-based diesel have less than a week to do so. READ MORE SHARE
Vermont Gas, Middlebury College break ground on RNG project Representatives from Middlebury College, Vanguard Renewables, Vermont Gas, Goodrich Farm, and the State of Vermont gathered on Aug. 20 at the farm in Salisbury, Vermont, to mark the official groundbreaking for an anaerobic digester. READ MORE SHARE
	New Jersey governor issues conditional veto of food waste bill New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy issued a conditional veto Aug. 23 on a food waste recycling bill. Murphy’s action aims to remove exemptions that allow food waste to be send to incinerators and landfills, which could increase waste-to-energy production. READ MORE SHARE
Canada awards $7.6 million to UBC’s biomass expansion project The Canadian government announced Aug. 19 it will provide $7.6 million to support the University of British Columbia’s biomass expansion project, which will increase the university’s renewable energy capacity. READ MORE SHARE
Representatives urge GAO investigation of SREs A dozen members of Congress, led by Rep. Abby Finkenauer, D-Iowa, sent a letter to U.S. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro Aug. 21 urging the U.S. Government Accountability Office to examine the review and approval of SREs under the RFS. READ MORE SHARE
Avantium wins €6 million grant, releases half-year results Netherlands-based renewable chemistry company Avantium announced Aug. 26 it has been awarded a €6 million ($6.65 million) grant to accelerate development of its technologies. The company also recently released half year financial results. READ MORE SHARE
Report shows exponential growth in EU biogas production Bioenergy Europe, in collaboration with the European Biogas Association, recently released its 2019 report on biogas, which shows biogas production in Europe has grown exponentially since 1990. The EU had approximately 17,783 biogas plants in 2017. READ MORE SHARE
Axne calls for OIG investigation into EPA’s misuse of SREs Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, sent a letter to U.S. EPA Acting Inspector General Charles Sheenhan Aug. 21 requesting the EPA OIG conduct an investigation into the agency’s questionable decision-making and misuse of its SRE authority. READ MORE SHARE
EPA extends public comment period on Section 610 review of RFS The U.S. EPA posted a notice to its website Aug. 21 extending the public comment period on its review of the Renewable Fuel Standard under Section 610 of the Regulatory the Regulatory Flexibility Act through Sept. 23. READ MORE SHARE
Norden signs contract with Enviva Danish shipping company Norden announced Aug. 15 it has contracted with Enviva to transport between 1.3 million and 1.5 million metric tons of wood pellets from the U.S. to Europe over a 6-year period spanning from 2021 to 2026. READ MORE SHARE