The U.S. EPA on Dec. 9 released a final rule that changes the way the agency will consider the costs and benefits of all significant Clean Air Act rulemakings. The EPA said the impacted rulemakings will be accompanied by a benefit-cost analysis.
President-elect Joe Biden has announced he will nominate Tom Vilsack as secretary of agriculture. Vilsack is a former two-term governor of Iowa who served as secretary of agriculture during all eight years of the Obama-Biden administration.
A 108-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant located on an island in the Indian Ocean located approximately 500 miles east of Madagascar will soon be converted to biomass, according to France-based power producer Albioma.
Atlantic Power Corp. announced on Dec. 8 a one-year extension of the power purchase agreement for its biomass-fired Calstock power plant in Ontario and a final settlement of the insurance claim for its Cadillac plant, a biomass facility in Michigan.
The U.K. Climate Change Committee on Dec. 9 released its Sixth Carbon Budget, which provides guidance on GHG reductions needed achieve net zero emissions. The budget shows BECCS is one technology necessary to meet the U.K.'s GHG goals.
The 45Q Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage Tax Credit Amendments Act of 2020 was introduced in the U.S. Senate on Dec. 7. The bill makes targeted statutory changes to maximize the utility of the credit.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration's latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, released Dec. 8, predicts electricity generation from renewable energy sources will reach 20 percent in 2020 and 21 percent in 2021, up from 18 percent in 2019.
The U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency has introduced the EERE Program Information Center, EERE's new portal for funding opportunities. Several training opportunities on the new system are available in December and January.
Several biofuel and bioenergy groups are among nearly 70 trade organizations that sent a letter to congressional leadership last month urging the passage of tax extenders legislation before the 116th Congress adjourns sine die.
Reps. David McKinley, R-W.V., and Marc Veasey, D-Texas, on Dec. 3 introduced the ACCESS 45Q Act, which extends the date for projects to begin construction to claim the credit by 10 years and provides a direct pay elective.
Innio has announced that Wuhan Environmental Investment and Development Co. Ltd has selected Innio Jenbacher's J320 gas engine technology for the Wuhan Jiangxia Changshankou Municipal Solid Waste landfill project.
Greenlane Renewables Inc. has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Greenlane Biogas North America Ltd., signed a $10 million (US$7.7 million) contract for a new RNG project in the United States owned by an international energy company.
Enviva Partners LP on Dec. 2 announced that its first shipment of sustainable wood pellets is on its way from Port Panama City in Florida to Japan's Iwakuni Port. The shipment consists of approximately 28,000 metric tons.
The EIA is inviting public comments on a proposed three-year extension of its form to collect data for the Densified Biomass Fuel Report, which features data on the manufacture, shipment, export, energy characteristics and sales of densified biomass.
Japanese energy company Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd. announced on Nov. 30 a groundbreaking ceremony for its 50 megawatt (MW) Tokuyama biomass plant, a facility under development in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
The Biogenic CO2 Coalition on Nov. 19 commended a bipartisan group of six U.S. governors who are urging the U.S. EPA to take prompt, science-based action to keep the United States from falling behind its competitors in the international bioeconomy.
FutureMetrics LLC published a white paper in mid-November describing how co-firing sustainably produced wood pellets at existing power stations can help the Biden administration meet its climate goals.
The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the EU's review of its Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) focused on aligning RED II targets with the European Green Deal and a review of sustainability criteria for for forest biomass.
A county official from Arizona offered testimony in favor of the Forest Health and Biomass Energy Act during a Senate hearing held Nov. 18. The bill aims incentivize the removal of dangerous overgrowth in forests.
The government of Quebec on Nov. 16 unveiled its 2030 Plan for a Green Economy. The plan focuses primarily on clean electricity, but also addresses the use of renewable natural gas (RNG) and bioenergy for heating.
Reps. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., and Jim Hagedorn, R-Minn., on Nov. 18 introduced the Streamlining Advanced Biofuels Registration Act, which aims to force the U.S. EPA to act on outstanding RFS pathway and registration applications.
The U.K. government on Nov. 18 issued its 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution, which addresses sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and an accelerated phase-out of the sale of new gasoline- and diesel-fueled vehicles.
Nodal Exchange and IncubEx on Nov. 17 announced the successful launch of eight new renewable identification number (RIN) futures and options contracts, plus seven new renewable energy certificate (REC) contracts.
Global biomass electricity production capacity expanded by 8.5 gigawatts (GW) in 2019, the second-highest level of annual addition on record, according to the International Energy Agency's Renewables 2020 report, which was released in November.
Biomass Magazine has announced that the 14th Annual Biomass Conference & Expo will be taking place 100 percent virtual, March 15-17, 2021. The deadline to submit a presentation abstract is Nov. 13, 2020.
Advertisement