Biomass Week - December 2, 2020

EPA fails to extend sales deadline for Step 1 wood heaters The Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association posted a notice to its website on Nov. 18 announcing it has received confirmation from the U.S. EPA that the agency will not be providing a sell-through period for Step 1 residential wood heating appliances. READ MORE SHARE
Covanta: Protos energy-from-waste project reaches financial close Covanta Holding Corp., Green Investment Group Limited and Biffa plc have announced financial close and the commencement of construction on the Protos Energy Recovery Facility (Protos ERF) in Cheshire, England. READ MORE SHARE
	EPA misses statutory deadline to set 2021 RFS RVOs The U.S. EPA has missed its Nov. 30 statutory deadline to set the 2021 RVOs under the RFS, as well as the 2021 RVO for biomass-based diesel. While a COVID-19-related delay was not unexpected, the agency has yet to issue even an initial proposal. READ MORE SHARE
USDA solicits FY 2021 REAP applications The USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service is soliciting applications for FY 2021 funding under the Rural Energy for America Program. Biomass energy systems, including biogas and anaerobic digesters, are among those eligible for the program. READ MORE SHARE
UK details plans for future of the CfD scheme The U.K. government on Nov. 24 confirmed that coal-to-biomass conversion projects will be excluded from future allocation rounds under its CfD scheme. Dedicated biomass with combined-heat-and-power (CHP) will continue to be eligible. READ MORE SHARE
Japan’s wood pellet imports to reach 2.1M metric tons in 2020 Japan imported a record 1.6 million metric tons of wood pellets last year, according to a report filed with the USDA FAS Global Agricultural Information Network. Wood pellet imports for 2020 are expected to reach 2.1 million metric tons. READ MORE SHARE
CenterPoint Energy gains approval for made-in-Minnesota RNG CenterPoint Energy announced Nov. 19 it has received approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to open its natural gas distribution system to made-in-Minnesota renewable natural gas (RNG). READ MORE SHARE
Canfor sells Fort Nelson forest tenure to Peak Renewables Canfor announced on Nov. 17 it has reached multi-year $30 million agreements with pellet producer Peak Renewables involving the sale of the company’s forest tenure in the Fort Nelson region of British Columbia. READ MORE SHARE
Quebec invests in forestry waste-to-advanced biofuel project The Quebec government on Nov. 30 announced it awards funding totaling CAD 5.94 million to the non-profit organization Bioénergie La Tuque to support a project develop and demonstrate the potential to produce advanced biofuels from forest waste. READ MORE SHARE
Village Farms renews, extends Vancouver landfill gas contract Village Farms Clean Energy Inc. has renewed and extended its existing contract with the City of Vancouver under which VFCE receives landfill gas captured by the City of Vancouver at the City's landfill site in Delta, British Columbia. READ MORE SHARE