Pellet Mill Press - April 7, 2020

USDA: US wood pellet exports top 546,435 tons in February The U.S exported 546,435.2 metric tons of wood pellets in February, up from both 500,904 tons in January and 501,563.9 tons in February 2019, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on April 2. READ MORE SHARE
USIPA: US wood pellet exports continue uninterrupted In the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic, U.S. industrial wood pellet producers continue operations, ensuring no supply disruptions for global customers depending on their product for renewable wood heat and power production. READ MORE SHARE
	Drax’s largest wood pellet shipment arrives in UK Associated British Ports and Drax announced on March 20 that a shipment of 63,907 metric tons of wood pellets had been received and unloaded earlier in the week. It was the largest shipment of wood pellets handled to date at the Port of Immingham. READ MORE SHARE
Renova reaches financial close on 75 MW biomass power plant Renova Inc. announced March 24 it has reached financial close on the 74.95 megawatt (MW) Ishinomaki Hibarino Biomass Power Generation Project in Ishinomaki, Japan. The facility will be fueled with wood pellets and palm kernel shells. READ MORE SHARE
After delay, PA pellet producers deemed essential workforce Despite guidance from federal agencies recognizing forest product manufacturing sites as an essential critical infrastructure workforce, Pennsylvania wood pellet producers were temporarily forced to shutdown March 19. The issue was resolved March 21. READ MORE SHARE
COVID-19 delays construction of 299 MW biomass power plant in UK Construction on the Tees Renewable Energy Plant (Tees REP) a 299 megawatt (MW) biomass power plant in the U.K. was suspended on March 24 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A small number of critical maintenance staff remain onsite. READ MORE SHARE
Drax: Operations continue during COVID-19 pandemic Will Gardiner, CEO of Drax Group, released a statement on March 25 explaining how Drax and its employees are working to ensure the U.K. is supplied with the power it needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. READ MORE SHARE
Pinnacle: Operations not impacted by COVID-19 Canada-based pellet producer Pinnacle Renewable Energy issued a statement on March 19 announcing the operations of its facilities have not been impacted by COVID-19. Pinnacle CEO Rob McCurdy, however, is delaying his planned retirement. READ MORE SHARE
Enviva: Pellet production, shipments not impacted by COVID-19 Enviva has announced production at its wood pellet manufacturing plants has not been impacted by COVID-19. “Our operations remain stable and our ships are sailing as scheduled,” said the company in a statement issued on March 20. READ MORE SHARE
Permitting process for AEG CoalSwitch plant impacted by COVID-19 Active Energy Group announced on March 30 that the public comment period for the construction and air permit needed for the company’s proposed CoalSwitch plant in Lumberton, North Carolina, has been extended through April 27 due to COVID-19. READ MORE SHARE