Biomass Week - June 10, 2020

USDA: US wood pellet exports reach 595,166 metric tons in April The U.S. exported 595,166.2 metric tons of wood pellets in April, up from the 424,680.5 million tons that were exported in April 2019, but down from the 670,463.8 million tons that were exported in March 2020, according to data released by the USDA. READ MORE SHARE
EPA to change how it considers costs, benefits of CAA regulations The U.S. EPA on June 4 released a proposed rule that will require all future significant regulations promulgated under the Clean Air Act to be accompanied by a benefit-cost analysis (BCA). The RFS is among the CAA programs likely to be affected. READ MORE SHARE
	30-day comment period opens on RFS anti-backsliding proposal A 30-day public comment period is now open on the U.S. EPA’s proposal to determine that no additional fuel control measures are necessary to mitigate air quality impacts of required renewable fuel volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard. READ MORE SHARE
Bill would help farmers, foresters participate in carbon markets The Growing Climate Solutions Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate on June 4. The bill aims to break down barriers for farmers and foresters interested in participating in carbon markets so they can be rewarded for climate-smart practices. READ MORE SHARE
Biofuel, ag groups demand answers on ‘gap’ year SRE petitions A group of nine biofuel and ag groups sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on June 9 requesting more information about small refinery exemption (SRE) petitions the agency has reportedly received for past RFS compliance years. READ MORE SHARE
Atlantic Power: Calstock plant secures short-term PPA extension Atlantic Power Corp. announced on June 3 it has secured a short-term extension of the current power purchase agreement (PPA) for its Calstock plant, a 35 megawatt (MW) biomass power plant located in Hearst, Ontario. READ MORE SHARE
Xebec signs LOI for Alberta RNG project, launches investment fund Xebec Adsorption Inc. has signed a letter of intent (LOI) for a commercial renewable natural gas (RNG) project in Alberta and has partnered with Fonds de solidarité FTQ to launch an investment fund to increase RNG production in Quebec. READ MORE SHARE
Bioenergy DevCo partners to bring RNG to Delmarva Peninsula Bioenergy DevCo announced June 4 that it has entered into an agreement with Chesapeake Utilities Corp., a NYSE-listed diversified energy company, on a project to remove excess organics from the poultry industry and convert it into RNG. READ MORE SHARE
$17 million available for biomass utilization in Tuolumne County A new $17 million program in Tuolumne County, California, will provide loans to increase the use of low- and no-value wood from Tuolumne County forests and provide an alternative to pile burning of forest waste. READ MORE SHARE
Seabreeze Farm updates RNG equipment with DMT technology DMT Clear Gas Solutions has announced Seabreeze Farm, a third-generation dairy farm owned by the Keulen family, will update their RNG equipment using DMT’s patented three-stage membrane separation system. READ MORE SHARE