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EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program's Workshops & Conferences
BIOMASS NEWS
Texas HB 1090: Biomass Power Generation and Revised Renewable Energy Requirements
During its 80th Legislative Session, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 1090, which authorizes $30 million annually for Department of Agriculture grants to farmers, loggers, and diverters who provide qualified agricultural biomass, forest wood waste, urban wood waste, or storm-generated biomass debris to facilities that use biomass to generate electrical energy.
EPA Delays RFS2 Rule July 2008
This is a Biodiesel Magazine article. The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a subcommittee hearing July 10 to discuss the renewable fuels standard (RFS) enacted in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and how the U.S. EPA plans to implement the second stage of the RFS enacted in the Energy Independence & Security Act of 2007 (RFS2).
Biométhodes, Virginia Tech Sign Biomass Agreement July 2008
French biotechnology company Biométhodes has signed an exclusive worldwide option-to-license agreement with Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Inc. for multiple technologies designed to convert biomass into ethanol and biobased hydrogen.
Emissions-Free Waste Management Coming to Killeen June 2008
The City of Kileen has donated 40 acres of land to ZEROS (Zero-emissions Energy Recycling Oxidation System) to build a zero waste emissions-free power plant near the Williamson County landfill. The plant was designed at Texas A&M University. ZEROS will use leading edge technology to convert solid waste from the land fill into electricity and other useable byproducts. The plant will use an oxygenated system to convert as much as 300,000 tons of garbage annually into electricity with zero emissions. Killeen was chosen because it met the criteria to provide the waste as fuel. In return, the company has agreed to sell back to the city at a reduced rate byproducts such as diesel fuel, gasoline and clean water which can be used to irrigate dry areas and be recycled into municipal water systems. The estimated cost of $250 million to $300 million will be provided by private investors. The plant is expected to create 200 jobs in Killeen while reducing the city's landfill waste treatment costs from $20 to $24 per ton to $10 per ton. The processing plant won't begin to be fired for at least another three years.
New Biodiesel Standard Allows Automaker Approval of 20% Blends June 2008
ASTM International, one of the largest standards development organizations in the world, has approved a new specification for diesel fuel blends containing 6%-20% biodiesel. According to the National Biodiesel Board (NBB), ASTM standards for the 20% biodiesel blends, or B20, are a crucial hurdle for the full acceptance of the use of such blends in diesel vehicles. With the new specification in place, automakers and engine manufacturers can test B20 in their diesel engines and know that consumers will be fueling their vehicle with a fuel of the same quality. While setting the new B20 standard, ASTM International also made changes to its specifications for B5 and for 100% biodiesel, or B100.
Farm Bill 2008 Speeds Advanced Biofuels Commercialization May 2008
Congress has passed the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, the new farm bill that will accelerate the commercialization of advanced biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol, encourage the production of biomass crops, and expand the current Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program. Section 9003 provides for grants covering up to 30% of the cost of developing and building demonstration-scale biorefineries for producing "advanced biofuels," which essentially includes all fuels that are not produced from corn kernel starch. It also allows for loan guarantees of up to $250 million for building commercial-scale biorefineries to produce advanced biofuels. For bill details, see this DOE article.
Renewable Manure: Turning Waste into Clean Energy March 2008
With funding from the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO), Texas Tech will develop an economic model and the cost feasibility structure for an interdependent system combining feed manufacturing, aquaculture, and feedlot production systems with the conversion of biomass into energy while effectively treating a waste stream. The modeling will incorporate marketing, transportation, and manufacturing aspects of the system. Utilizing biomass to create a source of income would be a positive strategy for ginners and livestock producers. Moreover, creating such a system would greatly reduce the negative environmental impact these industries have on our soil and water resources in Texas.
DOE and USDA to Invest Up to $18.4 Million in Biomass Projects February 2008
DOE and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced yesterday that they will invest up to $18.4 million in 31 biomass research, development, and demonstration projects over the next three years.
IRS Allocates $406 Million in Clean Renewable Energy Bonds February 2008
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced last week that it has allocated $406 million in Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs) for a total of 312 renewable energy projects to be located throughout the United States. The new bond allocations range from $15,000 to $30 million and are set aside for 139 solar energy facilities, 102 wind power installations, 45 landfill gas facilities, 18 hydropower plants, 5 biomass power plants, and 3 trash combustion facilities
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