Pellet Mill Press - March 3, 2020

Drax to stop use of coal, implement new biomass strategy Drax announced on Feb. 27 that the company will stop burning coal by March 2021, far ahead of the U.K. government’s 2025 deadline. Drax also released full year 2019 financial results on Feb. 27 and provided an update of its biomass strategy. READ MORE SHARE
Enviva announces new off-take contracts, releases Q4 results Enviva Partners LP released fourth quarter and full year 2019 financial results on Feb. 27, reporting increased annual pellet production and net revenue. The company also discussed future expansion plans and announced new off-take contracts. READ MORE SHARE
	Potential of torrefied wood pellets discussed at House hearing Torrefied wood pellets were among the products discussed during a Feb. 26 hearing held by the House Subcommittee on Conservation and Forests, titled “Innovative Wood Products: Promoting Rural Economies and Healthy Forests.” READ MORE SHARE
PFI delivers testimony to OMB on pellet requirements of EPA rule On Feb. 24, Pellet Fuels Institute Executive Director Tim Portz, Board Chairman John Utter and Past-Chair Stephen Faehner testified at the OMB about the impact to pellet manufacturers of the inclusion of minimum pellet fuel requirements in the NSPS. READ MORE SHARE
EPA delivers proposed rule on biogenic emissions to OMB The U.S. EPA delivered a proposed rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget on Feb. 24 focused on the treatment of biogenic carbon dioxide emissions under the Clean Air Act’s permitting programs. READ MORE SHARE
USDA: Ag Innovation Agenda will benefit biofuels, bioenergy The USDA unveiled its Agriculture Innovation Agenda on Feb. 20. The initiative, in part, aims to support renewable fuels, including ethanol, biodiesel and biomass. This includes a goal to achieve market-driven blend rates of E30 by 2050. READ MORE SHARE
Biomass electricity production sets record in Britain for 2019 Biomass electricity production set a new record in the U.K. last year, according to the fourth quarter 2019 Electrical Insights Report, produced by researchers at Imperial College London in collaboration with Drax. READ MORE SHARE
GE supplies steam technology for biomass power plant in Japan GE announced Feb. 5 that it will provide its renewable steam technology for the high efficiency Kamisu Biomass Power Generation plant in Japan. The facility is scheduled to start commercial operation in July 2023. READ MORE SHARE
Trump nominates Benevento, Menezes to fill posts at EPA, DOE President Trump on Feb. 13 nominated Douglas Benevento to serve as deputy administrator of the U.S. EPA and Mark Wesley Menezes to serve as deputy secretary of energy. Both nominations are subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate. READ MORE SHARE
Biomass Heat Works calls for industry support by UK officials Leaders from the U.K.’s biomass heat industry have called on the chancellor for support ahead of the spring budget to help government meet heat decarbonisation targets, address climate change and deliver on its 30 million tree planting initiative. READ MORE SHARE