Biomass Week - May 27, 2020

EPA opens comment period on wood heater proposal The EPA has opened a public comment period on a proposed rule that aims to allow retailers the opportunity to recover sales opportunities lost to the COVID-19 pandemic for wood heating appliances that meet Step 1 requirements under the 2015 NSPS. READ MORE SHARE
EPA approves RFS fuel pathway for biomass gasification project The U.S. EPA in May approved a fuel pathway under the Renewable Fuel Standard for a biomass gasification plant under development in McFarland, California, that will produce renewable natural gas (RNG) for sale into the transportation fuel market. READ MORE SHARE
	DOE to fund projects that gasify a mix of coal and biomass The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy on May 18 announced plans to offer funding for new projects that gasify a mix of coal and biomass to generate electric power and a carbon-free hydrogen coproduct. READ MORE SHARE
Senate hearing addresses wood stoves, RFS and biomass neutrality The U.S. EPA’s proposed rule to extend the sales deadline for Step 1 wood heaters, rulemaking to classify biomass as carbon neutral and issues associated with the RFS and SREs were among the topics discussed during a May 20 Senate hearing. READ MORE SHARE
EPA: SRE petitions filed for compliance years 2019, 2020 The U.S. EPA on May 21 released updated small refinery exemption (SRE) data, reporting that two additional SRE petitions have been filed with the agency; one for compliance year 2019 and one for compliance year 2020. READ MORE SHARE
USIPA: EU recognizes biomass is integral to energy transition The U.S. Industrial Pellet Association has welcomed the EU Biodiversity Strategy, which acknowledges that sustainable biomass will be integral to achieving Europe’s carbon reduction and biodiversity goals. READ MORE SHARE
EU approves Danish scheme to support biomass power production The European Commission has approved a DKK 4,150 million (approximately €550 million) state aid scheme to support the production of electricity in existing and depreciated biomass installations in Denmark. READ MORE SHARE
EPA releases update AgSTAR’s AD project development handbook The EPA has announced the release of the third edition of AgSTAR’s Anaerobic Digester Project Development Handbook, which includes a compilation of the latest knowledge in the industry on best practices for anaerobic digestion and biogas systems. READ MORE SHARE
USDA publishes final rule for 9003 loan guarantee program The USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service and Rural Utilities Service on May 18 published a final rule for the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Manufacturing Assistance Program in the Federal Register. READ MORE SHARE
Velocys: UK waste-to-jet fuel plant approved by local council Velocys plc, has announced that resolution to grant planning permission has been given to Altalto Immingham, the U.K.’s first commercial waste-to-jet-fuel plant, by North East Lincolnshire Council’s planning committee. READ MORE SHARE