On May 23, the U.S. EPA announced a 90-day administrative stay of two final rules announced in mid-2016 that aim to reduce methane emissions from MSW landfills. The stay will allow the agency to reconsider certain aspects of these regulations.
U.S. Sens. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., recently announced $500,000 in new federal funding for Clarkson University. The funding will advance anaerobic digestion techniques for small-to-medium-scale dairy farmers.
Siwertell, part of Cargotec, has signed a contract with the Spanish-Korean consortium, TR-Samsung, for a Siwertell ship unloader to support a new biomass-fueled power plant under construction in Teesside, Middlesbrough, U.K.
In the U.K., the latest Electrical Insights Report, produced by researchers at Imperial College London in collaboration with Drax, shows biomass generation hit a new high of 4.4 TWh during the first quarter of this year.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture is accepting applications for project funding through its Dairy Digester Research and Development Program, which has enabled construction of numerous California digester energy projects.
In response to demand from its members, the U.K. Renewable Energy Association has set up a group to cater for the landfill gas sector. The group has elected Ian Morrish of Viridor as its chair and Chris Parry of Biffa as vice-chair.
On May 17, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo released a methane reduction plan that, in part, supports energy production from biogas at farms and landfills across the state. It targets three sectors: oil and gas, landfills and agriculture.
On May 16, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation that allows certain older biomass power facilities to generate and sell renewable energy credits.
Hu Honua recently announced that it has reached an agreement with Hawaii Electric Light Co. on an amended power purchase agreement (PPA). The facility could be operating by the end of next year.
Capstone Turbine Corp. recently announced that it received an order for a C600 Signature Series microturbine to become part of an extensive upgrade for a wastewater treatment plant in upstate New York.
While South Korea's consumption of industrial wood pellets is growing and expected to continue, the prospect of North American producers securing long-term offtake agreements with utilities in the country in the near-term is grim, FutureMetrics said.
Fort Drum, a U.S. Army installation located in northern New York state and home to a 60-MW biomass power plant, is a leader in its support of the U.S. Department of Defense's priorities to enhance energy security and the use of renewable energy.
Smithfield Foods Inc. recently announced the release of the second installment of its 16th annual sustainability report. The Environment section highlights Smithfield's environmental leadership in key areas, including biogas production.
Rentech Inc. has released first quarter financial results, reporting consolidated revenues from continuing operations of $32.2 million, down from $39.9 million during the same period of the previous year. Gross loss was $700,000.
The Energy Department's Bioenergy Technologies Office and Argonne National Laboratory have developed an Bioenergy Career Map, an educational tool that helps users discover traditional and nontraditional career opportunities in the bioenergy industry.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the May edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, which includes 2017 and 2018 forecasts for biomass power generation.
Enviva Partners LP has released first quarter financial results, reporting net revenue of $122.1 million, up 13.9 percent from the same quarter of last year. Net income was $2.5 million, down from $5.5 million.
On May 11, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue released a plan to reorganize the USDA that creates an undersecretary for trade and agricultural affairs and eliminates the undersecretary for rural development.
The Biomass Power Association has released the results of a study demonstrating dramatic carbon benefits can be achieved by using forest residue-based biomass instead of natural gas in power generation facilities.
The American Biogas Council applauds the recent introduction of the bipartisan Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Act, which provides a 30 percent investment tax credit (ITC) for qualifying biogas and nutrient recovery systems.
The National Energy Board recently released a report on Canada's adoption of renewable power sources, reporting the country generates a larger share of its electricity from renewable sources than most other developed economies in the world.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has introduced legislation that would even further level the playing field for biomass-derived power, heat and liquid fuels.
California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles, on May 2 introduced Senate Bill 100, the California Clean Energy Act of 2017, which puts the state on the path to 100 percent clean, renewable energy by 2045.
The $1 trillion Omnibus spending bill up for consideration by the House and Senate this week includes a policy rider that calls for federal recognition of forest bioenergy carbon neutrality.
The Sustainable Biomass Partnership has published the final draft Regional Risk Assessment for Denmark. Interested parties are invited to provide written comments on the draft.
After two years of negotiations, DONG Energy has reached a deal to continue delivering district heating to three Danish energy companies via its Herning, Central Jutland, Denmark, biomass-fired combined-heat-and-power plant.
The relatively low carbon intensity of energy use in the industrial sector is the result of several factors, one being that the pulp and paper industry is a large consumer of biogenic material.
Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, along with Sens. Edward J. Markey, D-Massachusetts, and Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, introduced climate legislation that would transition the U.S. to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.
Toshiba Corp. started commercial operation of its first ever biomass power plant on April 27, a 50-MW facility that will supply enough electricity for 80,000 households and reduce CO2 emissions to about 300,000 tons a year.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company has announced a call for proposals for renewable energy developers to build new projects for a clean energy program available to PG&E customers.
Advertisement