Teru Talk Newsletter

Spring is here almost, and our noses are blooming … and it seems everyone has Cabin Fever to get projects started after this three year winter. Food Waste to Biogas is the hottest selling item right now, but it is good to see Poop Power holding its own, so to speak.

Teru will take in the Green California Summit in Sacramento early this next week, and hopes are high we can bring back some tasty new tricks of the Green Trade. We'll provide a wrap-up afterwards, as we have for the 8th Annual Biomass Forum . Remember, the Keynotes and the Exhibit Hall are free entry, so boot-scoot on down to Sac Town and as always, if you spot our smilin' face, say Howdy!

The Week's Extra Reading 

Back from the Biomass Forum Highlights of the California Biomass Collaborative's 8th Annual Forum, including The Great Debate.

Linking Bioenergy Crop Development with Soil and Water Phytoremediation Explores the use of Short-Rotation Woody Crop trees for both production of biomass and phyto-remediation of contaminated soils.

Solid Waste Conversion and Renewable Energy A Legislative Review of California's AB 2770, SB 1038, and SB 1078.

The Week's News

Group Challenges Cal Recycle's Gasification Decision

A group of organizations opposed to municipal solid waste (MSW) conversion has demanded that Cal Recycle rescind their finding that the plasma-assisted gasification technology proposed by Plasco for their renewable energy project in Salinas, California, is “gasification”. 04/16/2011

Oregon's Biogas Industry Is Ready to Grow

The Climate Trust has released “Growing Oregon’s Biogas Industry”, which details how Oregon’s dairies, wastewater treatment plants, municipal solid waste collectors and food processors have the feedstock and infrastructure to generate over 100 megawatts (MW) of biogas energy, but currently have only 8 MW installed. 04/16/2011

FCE Receives Contracts to Explore Biogas Processing, Carbon Capture   Connecticut company Fuel Cell Energy (FCE) has received a contract from the US Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate the effectiveness of their Direct FuelCells® (DFC®) to efficiently separate carbon dioxide (CO2) from the emissions of industrial operations such as refineries, cement kilns and pulp and paper mills. 04/16/2011

NCSU Researchers ID Microbe Responsible for Methane from Landfills   New research from North Carolina State University (NCSU) shows that one species of microbe prepares conditions in a landfill that allow other methane producers to flourish. 04/16/2011

Progress Energy Signs Agreement with Poultry Power for Biogas

Progress Energy Carolinas has signed a power purchase agreement for energy to be generated by Poultry Power USA’s gasification of farm waste. 04/15/2011

UK Plant Will Convert Food Waste to Energy and Fertilizer

GWE Biogas Ltd’s food waste to biogas and fertilizer plant is performing well during its commissioning phase. 04/15/2011

City of Oslo Awards Food Waste to Biogas Contract to Cambi

Norwegian anaerobic digestion company Cambi AS has been awarded a US$65MM contract for a turnkey biogas plant to convert treat 50 000 tons of food waste per year. 04/15/2011

KiOR Plans Initial Public Offering

Texas-based biofuel company KiOR has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to raise up to $100 million through their proposed Initial Public Offering (IPO) of shares of Class A common stock. 04/13/2011

Construction Begins on 13MGY Cellulosic Ethanol Plant in Italy

Novozymes’ partner, Mossi & Ghisolfi Group (M&G), is breaking ground on its first fully commercial scale cellulosic ethanol facility in Crescentino, northwestern Italy. 04/13/2011

Alcoa, Codexis and CO2 Solutions Partner to Turn Waste to Product   Biocatalyst firm Codexis and enzyme company CO2 Solutions have partnered with Alcoa for a three-part waste conversion research, demonstration and development (RD&D) project focused on recovering resources from Alcoa’s industrial residues. 04/13/2011

Construction Completed on New British Biogas Plant

Danish anaerobic digestion company Xergi has handed over a new biogas plant to Staples Vegetables, one of Britain's largest vegetable producers located in Wrangle, near Boston in Lincolnshire. 04/13/2011

LanzaTech Partners with LCY for Bio-Based Chemical Production

New Zealand based LanzaTech has formed a partnership with LCY Chemical Corporation for development of bio-based C2 through C5 solvents and green foundation chemicals. 04/13/2011

IEA Releases Its First Global Clean Energy Progress Report

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has for the first time published a Clean Energy Progress Report, assessing global deployment of clean energy technologies including renewable energy, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, nuclear power, biofuels and CO2 capture and storage (CCS), and providing recommendations to countries on future action and spending. 04/13/2011

APL’s Newest Biomass Gasifier is Shipping Container Size

ALL Power Labs’ new 100 kWe integrated gasifier and generator set (genset) fits inside a standard shipping container. 04/12/2011

U.S. Foodservice Fuels Fleet with Biodiesel from Waste Cooking Oil

The Columbia Division of U.S. Foodservice, Inc in Lexington, South Carolina has acquired WVO Industries, who for years has purified the waste vegetable oil U.S. Foodservice collects from their customers. 04/12/2011

New Joint Venture Will Advance Organic Waste Conversion Projects   Davis, California based Onsite Power Systems (OPS) is forming a joint venture with Purely Organic Products for advancing organic waste conversion technologies for production of renewable energy fuels and multiple high value organic fertilizer products. 04/11/2011

Wisconsin Sees Biogas Opportunity in Cows

The Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative has released their 2011 Strategic Plan, focused on “The Opportunity for Biogas in Wisconsin”. 04/11/2011

The Week's Action Items

Due 04/22/2011: Intent to Bid on New Mexico Renewable Energy

Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) issued a request for proposal (RFP) for renewable energy and accompanying renewable energy certificates (RECs) or RECs only on April 6, 2011. 04/13/2011