A New Year, New Administration and the Pandemic Backend
February 08, 2021
Anna Simet discusses the 2021 International Biomass Conference & Expo, the new Biden administration, and other issues facing the biomass industry.
Reading the Tea Leaves: Biden's Approach to Biomass Policy
By Carrie Annand
February 08, 2021
The Biomass Power Association anticipates many opportunities for pro-biomass policy during the next two years, supported by the policy papers distributed by the Biden campaign and transition team.
Financial assistance for E15 refueling infrastructure is helpful and important, but the real draw of higher ethanol blends is not up front incentives, but the potential for increased sales, more customers, and better margins at the pump.
Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, on Feb. 8 reintroduced legislation to create a renewable fuel infrastructure grant program and streamline regulatory requirements to help fuel retailers sell higher blends of ethanol.
At the end of 2020, Congress passed an omnibus relief package that included numerous provisions on renewable energy and energy efficiency. Among those was the inclusion of biomass heaters in section 25(D) of the IRS tax code.
Late last year, the Maine Public Utilities Commission rejected attempts to add heat pumps to the state thermal renewable energy credit program and adopted all of our industry's recommendations.
During the Senate's Feb. 5 “early morning vote-a-rama� on a budget resolution for COVID-19 relief, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, offered an amendment that would cap RINs at 10 cents apiece. The measure was swiftly defeated.
Whether a joint venture, solo on-site project or part of a developer's fiber-sourcing strategy, use of sawmill residue for pellet production presents advantages.
The U.S. exported nearly 7.26 million metric tons of wood pellets in 2020, up 5 percent from the 6.92 million metric tons exported in 2019, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on Feb. 5.
The U.S. exported more that 1.33 billion gallons of fuel ethanol last year, down from 1.46 billion gallons in 2019, according to data released by the USDA on Feb. 5. Despite the pandemic, that level of exports is the fourth highest volume on record.
Growth Energy filed comments on the U.S. EPA proposed Consent Decree for the United Refining Co. v. Wheeler case, in which United Refining challenged EPA's failure to act in a timely manner on its petition for a SRE from its 2019 RFS obligation.
Sawmills in the Northwest maintained aggressive production levels in Q4, while softwood chip exports declined, residual chip prices fell, and sawdust prices in every region were on par with those seen in 2018.
Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., on Feb. 4 reintroduced a bill that aims to compel the EPA to take action on submitted RFS pathway petitions and set a deadline for the agency to act on future pathway and registration petitions.
A new study commissioned by the Urban Air Initiative is underway to determine whether corn-based ethanol makes a larger contribution to the reduction of GHG emissions than it is currently receiving credit.
A bipartisan group of 15 senators sent a letter to Acting EPA Administrator Jane Nishida on Feb. 3 urging the agency to review the three small refinery exemptions (SREs) approved by the Trump administration on Jan. 19.
Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., on Feb. 4 reintroduced a bill that aims to compel the EPA to take action on submitted RFS pathway petitions and set a deadline for the agency to act on future pathway and registration petitions.
The Forest Enhancement Society of British Columbia has announced it will award $3 million to 15 projects as part of its effort to support jobs in the forestry sector and increase the use of wood fiber that would otherwise be burned as slash.
Novozymes released fourth quarter financial results on Feb. 2, reporting that its bioenergy segment was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The reduction in bioenergy sales, however, improved in the fourth quarter.
A bipartisan group of 15 senators sent a letter to Acting EPA Administrator Jane Nishida on Feb. 3 urging the agency to review the three small refinery exemptions (SREs) approved by the Trump administration on Jan. 19.
The RFA's Young Professionals Network recently onboarded its 100th member. The YPN was formed last summer as an initiative to bring together innovative and dedicated young professionals who work in the U.S. ethanol industry.
U.S. ethanol production was up slightly the week ending Jan. 29, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Feb. 3. Weekly ending stocks of fuel ethanol were up 3 percent.
Michael Regan, President Biden's nominee to serve as administrator of the U.S. EPA, said the RFS will be a priority the current administration and stressed agriculture will have a seat at the table when it comes to Biden's climate objectives.
Michael Regan, President Biden's nominee to serve as administrator of the U.S. EPA, said the RFS will be a priority the current administration and stressed agriculture will have a seat at the table when it comes to Biden's climate objectives.
Rolls-Royce has conducted the first tests of 100 percent SAF in a business jet engine. This test demonstrated that the company's current engines for large civil and business jet applications can operate with 100 percent SAF as a full drop-in option.
Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., on Feb. 3 reintroduced legislation that aims to require the U.S. EPA to update its outdated greenhouse gas (GHG) modeling for ethanol and biodiesel.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on Jan. 27 released proposed regulations to implement the Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Act, which was enacted in 2019 and takes effect on Jan. 1, 2022.
To solve ongoing issues related to fly ash, three power stations operated by Dominion Energy followed a systematic and scientific approach to design biomass fly ash handling systems that provide reliable flow.
The Japanese biomass market is on the cusp of some major developments that will change the dynamics of the market in the coming years.
IFF announced on Feb. 1 the completion of the previously announced merger of IFF and DuPont's Nutrition & Biosciences business, pursuant to a Reverse Morris Trust transaction. The combined company will continue to operate under the name IFF.
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