The U.K. Department of Energy & Climate Change has announced a 400 MW non-legislative cap on the total new build dedicated biomass generating capacity that can expect to be supported at 1.5 Renewable Obligation Certificates per MWh.
Under contract with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Harris Group has completed a comprehensive review of biomass gasifier technologies, titled "Biomass Gasification Technology Assessment."
The Sequoia Foundation has released an independent health impact assessment (HIA) for the proposed 2 MW Cabin Creek Biomass Energy Facility near Lake Tahoe, Calif. The county will consider the plant's minor use permit on Dec. 20.
Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber believes energy is the issue of our time, and to address the issue, he has released a 10-year Energy Action Plan. The 48-page plan includes a recommendation section on bioenergy and biomass-based thermal energy development.
Drax Biomass International Inc. a development and operating company focused on manufacturing wood pellets for renewable, low-carbon power generation from sustainable biomass, has announced its plans for three projects in the Gulf region.
The U.K. has committed to sourcing 15 percent of its energy from renewable resources by 2020, and biomass is expected to pay a crucial role in this goal by delivering low carbon sources of heat, power and liquid fuels.
Two biogas plants have recently been completed in Washington and California. Both will generate electricity to power onsite operations, but the California facility will also produce a liquid transportation fuel to power a truck fleet.
Patriot Bioenergy Corp. joined the Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative Association and sees value in industrial hemp for biomass blending with bituminous coal for power generation as well as a possible cellulosic feedstock for biofuels.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced $10 million in research grants to spur production of bioenergy and biobased products that will lead to the development of sustainable regional systems and help create jobs.
On Dec. 7, the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission elected to begin implementation of the state's Clean Fuels Program. A spokeswoman for the Oregon DEQ confirmed the commission voted four to one to implement the the proposed rules for phase one.
A Savannah, Ga., export terminal once used for the export of the paper industry product kaolin clay, will now give Enova Wood Pellet Group LLC a 1.35 million metric ton per year wood pellet export capacity at a single port.
The World Bioenergy Association released a new biomass fact sheet at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December. The document asserts that theories on carbon debt and "payback time" of biomass are not credible.
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has announced that Dublin-based Green Power Solutions will open a power plant at an existing paper mill in Laurens County, creating 35 permanent jobs with an initial capital investment of $95 million.
The government of Nova Scotia has sold a 30 MW biomass-fired cogeneration facility to Emera Inc. for $25 million. The Brooklyn Energy facility was recently purchased by the government as a part of a larger deal with Resolute Forest Products.
A vessel with nearly 20,000 tons of wood pellets was discharged at Wismar seaport the week of Dec. 3, according to wood pellet manufacturer German Pellets.
On Dec. 6, the U.S. Air Force announced it entered into a license agreement with New Generation Biomass, LLC, Oct. 16 to explore development of a biomass renewable energy generation facility at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.
Curtin University researchers have received $1 million of state government funding to develop a technology that rapidly and efficiently converts biomass into vapor and finely ground char particles that can be efficiently cofired with coal.
The U.K. Department for Business, Innovation & Skills recently declared the U.K. Green Investment Bank plc open for business. The entity is the world's first investment bank dedicated solely to green investments.
Researchers at the University of Maine at Fort Kent's Center for Rural Sustainable Development have been granted more than $62,000 to gauge farmer interest in growing energy grass on a large scale, and evaluate economic and market feasibility issues.
The National Resources Defense Council has unveiled a proposal to cut carbon emissions from power plants. The proposal calls on the U.S. EPA to set standards under the Clean Air Act for existing power plants, and includes proposed roles for biomass.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has published Annual Energy Outlook 2013 Early Release Overview. The document, which provides up an update of the AEO reference case, predicts a lower rate of growth for biofuels than the AEO2012.
Bristol, England's first food waste recycling plant, which will produce enough renewable energy to power around 3,000 homes, has officially been opened. The plant, operated by Wessex Water subsidiary GENeco, will treat 40,000 metric tons of waste.
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