The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the February 2013 issue of its Short-Term Energy Outlook. In 2013, power from wood biomass is expected to increase to an average of 106,000 MWh per day, and 110,000 MWh per day in 2014.
Legislation pending in the Washington State Legislature aims to extend the existing sales and use tax exemption for wood waste and residue used to produce electricity, steam, heat or biofuel through June 30, 2024.
Energy and climate change were two areas of focus in President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Feb. 12. “Today, no area holds more promise than our investments in American energy,� he said.
On Feb. 12, Finland-based Metso has announced it will supply a biomass-fired combined-heat-and-power (CHP) plant to Bioenergeticheskaya Kompaniya LLC. The 4 MW plant is scheduled to be operational in 2014.
The USDA has released two reports that outline the impact of climate change on agriculture and forestry. The reports provide a framework for understanding how climate change could affect the ability to meet demands for food, feed, fiber and fuel.
German researchers are developing a process to extract hydrogen from wet biomass using aqueous phase reforming. In this method, the wet biomass comes into contact with a catalyst, and chemical reactions break down the material to release hydrogen.
NEREA, a subsidiary of Akuo Energy, has begun construction of a 13 MW biomass cogeneration facility in Estrees-Mons, in the Somme department of France. SABEHF, a subsidiary of NEREA, will supply the facility with wood pellets.
Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has announced future support levels for biomass, which encourages smaller-scale combined-heat-and-power (CHP) generation and sways away from large-scale biomass combustion.
Georgia Southern University's Herty Advanced Materials Development Center has opened the first fully-integrated pilot pellet mill in the U.S. The new production line, located in Savannah, Ga., includes a nearly $2 million investment in equipment.
An open house was held on January 25 to introduce Zero Waste Energy LLC's first U.S.-based dry anaerobic digester (AD). The system is located at the Monterey Regional Waste Management District, where it will process locally generated waste.
The U.K. Department for Environmental, Food & Rural Affairs has announced a new, independent public body will hold in trust the nation's publicly-owned forests. The announcement came as part of the government's response to a recent forestry report.
Bloomberg New Energy Finance and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy have released a new report that shows power generation capacity from biomass and waste feedstocks increased from 13.9 gigawatts (GW) in 2008 to 14.7 GW in 2012.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, released an energy blueprint that calls for a wide variety of changes to U.S. energy policy, including drastic changes to the RFS.
Provisions in the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 have allowed biomass facilities to continue to qualify for renewable energy production tax credits, but value language is prompting the U.S. House to seek clarity from the IRS and U.S. Treasury.
Pending legislation in Oklahoma could result in the development of a state plan to utilize woody biomass for heat and power. The bill, HB 1656, is titled the "Oklahoma Woody Biomass Energy Initiative Act of 2013."
In a letter to Energy Department employees today, Energy Secretary Steven Chu highlighted the tremendous progress of the last four years, and announced his decision to not serve a second term as Secretary.
Ener-G Natural Power is set to begin construction on its second landfill gas management facility in Mexico, and recently announced it has partnered with a company based in Hartlepool, England, to develop three biogas projects.
Green Planet Power Solutions entered a 15 year purchase contract with the state of Maryland to provide 10 MW of electricity generated from animal waste in Caroline County. The agreement is the result of the Clean Bay Power process.
The U.S. EPA has announced a $145,000 settlement with Thermal Energy Development Partnership, a biomass electric power plant in Tracy, Calif., for Clean Air Act violations for failure to properly operate and maintain emission monitoring equipment.
Alter NRG Corp. has announced that Wuhan Kaidi, which purchased a Westinghouse Plasma gasifier design, and plasma torch systems, from Alter NRG in 2010, has successfully completed the commissioning of the unit at its demonstration facility.
Northern Ireland has announced new support levels for biomass and solar under the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation, effective April 1., including an six-month extension of higher support levels for some combined-heat-and-power (CHP) plants.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released its latest Monthly Energy Review, which includes biomass power generation statistics through Oct. 2012. The report shows the use of woody biomass increased over the first 10 months of the year.
Wood pellet exports in North America were up 70 percent in the third quarter of 2012, compared to the third quarter of 2011, according to a new report by the North American Wood Fiber Review.
Several Japanese entities have announced the formation of a joint venture company focused on biomass power development. The new company, Green Power Corp., will aim to begin operation of a 5 MW wood-fired power plant in 2015.
The Biomass Thermal Energy Council has announced its newly elected executive officers for the 2013 board of directors. The election marks the departure of Charlie Niebling, New England Wood Pellet's general manager, as BTEC Chairman.
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