Pellet Mill Press - March 16, 2021

Ørsted, Aker Carbon Capture, Microsoft explore BECSS projects Ørsted, Aker Carbon Capture, and Microsoft have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore ways to support the development of carbon capture and storage at biomass-fired heat and power plants in Denmark. READ MORE SHARE
Drax opens public consultation on BECCS proposals Drax Group plc has announced an informal public consultation on its proposed BECSS project is open through late March. The consultation represents the first phase in securing a DCO from the U.K. government, which is needed to deploy the project. READ MORE SHARE
	USDA: US exports 599,324 metric tons of wood pellets in January The U.S. exported 599,624.2 metric tons of wood pellets in January, up from both 564,826.2 metric tons in December and 500,904 metric tons in January 2020, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on March 5. READ MORE SHARE
Senate votes to confirm Regan as EPA administrator The U.S. Senate on March 10 voted 66 to 34 to confirm Michael Regan as administrator of the U.S. EPA. Representatives of the biofuels and bioenergy industries have spoken out in support of Regan’s confirmation. READ MORE SHARE
USDA seeks public input on climate-smart ag and forestry strategy The USDA on March 15 announced it is opening a 45-day public comment period to gather input on its climate-smart agriculture and forestry strategy, including several topics focused specifically on biofuels, bioproducts and renewable energy. READ MORE SHARE
UK government offers £4 million for sustainable biomass projects The U.K. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on March 9 announced it will invest £4 million ($5.57 million) in projects that aim to increase the production of sustainably sourced biomass in the U.K. READ MORE SHARE
EIA: Densified biomass fuel sales reach 770,000 tons in November The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently released data showing U.S. manufacturers produced approximately 800,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in November, with sales reaching 770,000 tons. READ MORE SHARE
Cardboard-to-pellet project receives $95,000 grant An innovative partnership between Aurora College and a Gwich’in-owned company has received $95,000 to support studying the potential to convert waste cardboard into heating pellets for homes and businesses in Inuvik and the Beaufort Delta. READ MORE SHARE
CLEAN Future Act includes RFS, renewable energy provisions House Committee on Energy and Commerce democrats on March 2 introduced the CELAN Future Act, which sets a goal to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. The bill includes provisions related to the RFS and bioenergy. READ MORE SHARE
Bill funds tax credit that could benefit biofuel, CCS projects Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Joe Manchin, D-W.V., on March 1 introduced the American Jobs in Energy Manufacturing Act of 2021, which aims to incentivize domestic manufacturing of advanced energy technologies. READ MORE SHARE