February 2012 News and Matters of Interest
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California State/Federal Support Available for EU Trade Show Participation
 The California State Trade and Export Promotion program (STEP) has announced availability of funds and on-the-ground support to companies
participating in Hanover Messe, running April 23-27, 2012 in Hanover Germany. The conference and exhibition is
touted as the world's largest industrial technology trade show; in 2011, over 6,500 companies from 65 countries
displayed their products and services to an audience of over 230,000 visitors. STEP is being assisted by the US
Department of Commerce and US Commercial Service
in seeking California companies; targeted products and services for export include all
aspects of energy generation (both renewable and conventional), along with power-plant equipment, Industrial
automation equipment, hybrid and electric power-train, integrated IT manufacturing process controls, industrial
supply, coil winding, electric motors and transformer technology, and environmental technologies. State and
federal support includes an exhibition fee discount of $3,000, arranged meetings with potential buyers and
distributors, networking opportunities, co-branding of products as “Made in California” through provided signs
and banners, and print advertising via a California pocket guide. STEP qualifications forms and Exhibition
details are available on-line with the announcement. For additional information, contact Jeffrey Williamson,
(909) 556-6639,. 02/29/2012
BioNitrogen Plans to Build Inaugural Biomass-to-Urea Plant in Texas
 Florida-based BioNitrogen Corporation announced that it is purchasing a 49 acre site in Lubbock, Texas,
pending completion of an Environmental Site Assessment in mid March 2012. The small-footprint, modular plant
design will be scaled to produce 15 tons of urea per hour, or 360 tons per day for an annual production capacity
of about 125,000 tons. The new Texas facility will aid BioNitrogen in meeting the demand of its recently secured
bulk off-take agreement with United Suppliers for up to 300,000 tons
annually. The company's patent-pending processing methods first clean and size incoming biomass, gasify the
feedstock to generate a high-nitrogen synthetic producer gas, cleans this syngas, then catalytically reforms
this intermediary to form high-quality bulk urea, a white crystalline solid containing 46% available nitrogen
for us as a fertilizer. “Given the inextricable link between food consumption, production and
fertilizer demand and supply balances for the next 40 years, the importance of our inaugural plant in the USA
cannot be overstated for both our national and international future customers and shareholders. Over the past
month since our announcement to commercialize the company, we have received almost daily inquires of interest
from around the world wanting to examine strategic partnerships and associated investment opportunities relating
to our patent-pending nitrogen-based urea and fertilizer production facilities,” Dr. Terry R. Collins, President
and CEO of BioNitrogen, stated. 02/28/2012
North
Carolina Biofuels Center Launches Biofuels Company Accelerator
 The Biofuels Center of North Carolina (NC) has announced the launch of its Biofuels Accelerator to promote the state's development of a biofuels
industry in the state through support of related technology projects, research, and businesses. The private,
non-profit Biofuels Accelerator is based in Oxford on North Carolina's Biofuels Campus, a partnership project
with the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The facility, containing eight upgraded
laboratories and other work spaces, provides leased laboratory facilities, shared equipment, and business
development support from both the Center and other agencies. Congressman G. K. Butterfield of North Carolina’s
first congressional district secured a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for the extensive
refurbishing that has just been completed. “North Carolina is a national leader in biofuels research and
innovation, and the Biofuels Center has been integral to that effort,” said Congressman Butterfield. “A targeted
resource for agronomy, technology, and production development will benefit our state and eastern North Carolina
specifically as we pursue our goal of driving locally grown renewable energy.” 02/28/2012
Shell's
New Biofuels Pilot Facility in Houston Uses Virent's BioForming Platform
 Royal Dutch Shell plc has new pilot facility built within its Westhollow Technology Center in
Houston, Texas to explore thermal catalysis of biomass to drop-in biofuel using a technology platform based on
its license with Virent Energy Systems. The construction is a continuation of Shell's
modernization of the Westhollow Technology Center announced two years ago. Virent's "Eagle"
pilot plant in Madison, Wisconsin utilizes its patented BioForming® platform, combining Aqueous Phase Reforming
(APR) with catalytic processing to convert diverse compounds derived from the deconstruction of biomass into
to-specification fuels and chemicals with the same molecular structure as their petroleum-derived counterparts.
Shell's new Westhollow pilot plant will further develop the Virent model and test a range of feedstocks starting
with sugars and expanding to non-food cellulosic alternatives to the production of a range of products,
including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. “This allows us to explore further biofuels options as we continue to
actively manage our advanced biofuels pathways to identify a feasible set of commercial solutions” said Luis
Scoffone, Vice President, Alternative Energies at Shell. 02/28/2012
JBI
Brings 2nd Plastic2Oil Processor On-Line in New York Facility
 Canadian waste conversion specialist JBI, Inc. has completed its second plastic to oil (P2O) processing train in its
Niagara Falls, New York facility and it is now on-line. This unit is an upgrade based on lessons learned in
trials of the first processor unit, under testing since June of last year, and includes "a replicable and
deployable modular design". JBI holds air permits for both models, rated for a throughput rate of up to 4,000
pounds per hour each (48 tons/day). The two units are currently operating at 2,000 pounds per hour, while
waiting for finalization of an amended solid waste facility permit from the New York Department of Environmental
Conservation (NYDEC). The small-footprint pyrolytic process, once initiated, is
driven by heat generated from combustion of a fraction of the gas it produces, extracting a little over a gallon
of ASTM certified fuel oil per pound of waste plastic (0.26 liters/kilogram). “Bringing Processor No. 2 online
represents a significant achievement as well as a milestone for our Company. We believe this sets us apart from
other plastic into fuel conversion technologies,” states John Bordynuik, CEO and President. “JBI, Inc. is the
first company to successfully move from a pilot plant to a multiple processor, full production plant within the
industry.” Towers and reactors have been fabricated for the third P2O processor (the “Processor No. 3”) and
plans to bringing No.3 online in the near future. 02/28/2012
ICF Completes CHP Report for
CEC, Receives $6M Clean Energy Contract from EPA
 The California Energy Comission (CEC) has released a report prepared by Virginia-based ICF International, entitled
"Combined Heat and Power: Policy Analysis and 2011-2030 Market Assessment.” The document provides a detailed
analysis to support the CEC's on-going work to increase integration of combined heat and power (CHP) generation
into the California clean energy marketplace, and evaluates the potential contribution of new combined heat and
power to the reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases as required by the California Global Warming Solutions
Act, Assembly Bill 32 (Núñez, Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006). ICF's report is available on-line, along
with CHP presentations from the agency's February 16, 2012 Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) Workshop on Combined Heat and Power in California. At the federal
level, ICF has announced it has been awarded a $6 million "recomplete" contract
expansion from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support the agency's efforts to remove barriers to
clean energy investments by clean energy program administrators, including investor-, publicly-, or
cooperatively-owned utilities, municipalities, cooperatives, state and local governments, third-party
administrators and other key stakeholders. “We are excited that EPA desires our continued support for this
important clean energy policy and implementation work,” said Robin Clark, senior vice president for ICF
International. “The ICF team brings national thought leadership and demonstrated success in energy efficiency
and clean energy initiatives helping EPA and its partners meet the evolving demands of the clean energy
marketplace.” 02/28/2012
Due
03/23/2012: Comments on Army Corps of Engineers Draft $7 Billion RFP
 The US Army Engineering and Support Center in Huntsville, Alabama has
announced the release of a draft request for proposals (RFP) and seeks
public comment, toward the purchase of up to $7 billion over a ten-year period, for renewable energy shared
capacity contracts up to 30 years in duration. The objective of the solicitation is to award long-term power
purchase agreements (PPAs, or through other types of agreements), to procure "reliable locally generated
renewable and alternative energy", specifying this is for energy purchase only (not acquisition of generation
assets) from developers who will finance, design, build, operate, own and maintain the energy generation
facilities. An initial Base Contract set-aside of 19 million kilowatt hours has been designated for
biomass-sourced power purchase, with further bioenergy purchases scheduled as Option Contracts but not scaled,
over the duration of the program. Project locations may be on or near any federal property in the US or under US
control for the contract duration; negotiated Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contracts will be
both site and project specific. Multiple awards are intended to be distributed across small, medium and large
business categories; reservations for small business are held for proposals in categories below 4 megawatts
(MWe), from 4 to 12 MWe, and above 12 MWe. The draft RFP for Renewable and Alternative Energy Power Production
(Solicitation Number: W912DY11R0036) is available on-line and open for comment to 30 days, with submissions
through the ProjNet web portal (ProjNet Key: PLUXL7-TRQ8P1) due by March 23, 2012.
A pre-proposal conference with a question and answer session will be conducted shortly after the release of the
final RFP. 02/28/2012
Ontario
Backs Green Chemistry Breakthrough for Recycling Unrecyclables
 The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev
Ontario), Canada, has awarded a $5.48 million grant to support
commercialization of a new method to recycle materials such as polystyrene and contaminated plastic by
separation of oily materials from surfaces. The green solvent technology can be useful in many areas of
recycling and resource recovery, biofuels and biochemical processes. The funding goes to the incubator
GreenCentre Canada and its start-up Switchable Solutions. The new technology is based on research by Dr.
Philip Jessup of Queen's University on novel fluids called "switchable hydrophilicity solvents" (SHS), and
licensed to GreenCentre from the University-to-Business intermediary PARTEQ Innovations. With $11 million in matching funds from Switchable
Solutions, initial development will focus on the design and commissioning of production facilities two SHS
applications, cleaning of post-consumer plastics, and recovery of petroleum by separation from oil sand. FedDev
Ontario Member of Parliament Daryl Kramp: "The unique technology being developed by
GreenCentre in partnership with Switchable Solutions Inc. will increase competitiveness for the plastic and
recycling industries in southern Ontario, diversify the economy, and create jobs," said MP Kramp. "Our
government is proud to support such an innovative project that will transform waste into products that can be
re-used." 02/27/2012
Dalkia
Plans 300 MW Biomass CHP Plant for Lithuania's Capital
 The Ukrainian Biofuel Portal reports that Dalkia France intends to build a biofuel combined heat
and power (CHP) plant in Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania, at a cost of 500 million litas. The proposed
300 megawatt CHP plant will have sufficient capacity to heat at least half of the city, and
is focused on reduction of heating costs for residents by 20%. The French company is a subsidiary of Veolia
Environnement and Electricité de France (EDF), and has numerous energy developments in the Baltic States. The
CHP plant is acceptable to the Lithuanian government with two provisions: all the biofuel purchases must be made
through the special Procurement Center in Lithuania, and biofuel should only be bought on the government's fuel
stock exchange, currently being structured. This project is separate from the district heating expansion project initiated in 2002 by Vilniaus
Energija, a Veolia Energy-Dalkia subsidiary. 02/27/2012
MagneGas
Supplies Liquid Waste-Sourced Syngas to OneSteel Ltd
 Florida-based waste-to-syngas specialist MagneGas Corporation has announced receipt of the first purchase order from its new customer,
the global steel company OneSteel Ltd. OneSteel will start substituting MagneGasTM
for fossil fuel sourced cutting gas at its Tampa, Florida location, then if negotiations and product trials
prove successful, switch to the alternative fuel at its other six Florida facilities. "Part of OneSteel's
Corporate Vision is to be an environmentally responsible Company and this was what initially led us to find
MagneGas," commented Steve Ryan, General Manager of OneSteel Ltd's U.S. operations. "Not only is MagneGas™ cost
competitive, it is a greener alternative than what we are currently using for metal working and it has exceeded
our expectations in terms of its metal cutting performance. Our commitment to the environment made the decision
to switch to MagneGas the right choice for us." Magnegas utilizes its proprietary Plasma Arc FlowTM technology to reduce liquid wastes like
sewage sludge to a high-Btu synthetic fuel gas, or syngas, providing a cost-effective alternative to acetylene
and propane used to cut metal. 02/27/2012
CEC Schedules Workshop on
Renewable Energy Research Funded Through PIER
 The California Energy Commission (CEC) will conduct a workshop on February 29, 2012 on renewable energy research
funded under the agency's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program to present and discuss achievement. The
workshop will include presentations of recent projects in five separate technical sessions in the areas of
bioenergy, solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy and renewable energy integration. Each technical section
will wrap up with a staff-facilitated panel discussion of project results, benefits of the research and related
topics. The morning session on Biomass and Bioenergy Research will include Panel presentations on (1) Biomass
Barriers and Opportunities by Dr. Steven Kaffka of UC Davis, (2) Onsite Waste to Energy Generation by Steve Gill
of Gill’s Onions, (3) Dairy Digester Environmental and Economic Analysis by Matt Summers, Summers Consulting,
and (4) Green Bio-Energy for Food Processing by Russ Lester of Dixon Ridge Farms. A Bioenergy Panel Discussion
will follow, considering how research and development (R&D) can help commercialize biomass to energy systems
and help the industry meet environmental regulations for anaerobic digesters, and what are R&D efforts that
can help simplify interconnection for biomass energy projects. The day-long workshop will be web broadcast;
participation instructions are posted with the meeting notice. Written comments are encouraged; submit
electronically by 5:00 p.m. on March 8, 2012 to .
02/26/2012
Provincial Government of Canada Backs Waste Fish Oil to Biodiesel Research
 The Provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador,
Canada, announced that the Canadian Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture has
awarded a grant of $89,100 to continue research of waste fish oil to biodiesel research and development. The
grant supports continuing work of the Marine Institute, backing establishment of a new demonstration-scale
biorefinery at the Institute's Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development. Improved extraction
and processing methods are needed to economically convert the underutilized waste oils from Newfoundland and
Labrador's extensive fisheries industry into commodity biofuel. “For the past five years, we have been actively
engaged in developing a marine waste oil biodiesel production system specifically engineered for the unique
situation in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Heather Manuel, Director of Marine Institute’s Centre for
Aquaculture and Seafood Development. “Having already identified potential sources and availability of marine
biodiesel feedstock and studied marine-based biodiesel production and marketing issues in the province, this
funding will take us to a level where we can work to successfully overcome the challenges of converting marine
oils into biodiesel.” 02/25/2012
Arisdyne's Controlled Flow Cavitation System Licensed by United Ethanol
 Ohio-based pre-treatment systems specialist Arisdyne has announced that United Ethanol has agreed to license and acquire the
company's patented Controlled Flow Cavitation (CFCTM) equipment. United Ethanol's decision follows extensive testing in collaboration
with the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC), Ohio's State Agriculture Research and Development
Center (OARDC) and third-party analysts from Critical Path Management, testing that proved the cavitation system
increased the daily yield of ethanol production over untreated feedstock. Arisdyne's cavitation of feedstock
slurry "liberates recalcitrant starch" at commercial scale flow rates, and opens cell structure through
controlled flow, high-shear hydrodynamics rather than utilizing earlier and better-known ultrasonic cavitation
systems that were restricted for effective flow rate. Arisdyne's CFCTM provides a retrofit solution for improved reactions wherever reduction in
feedstock particle size and resultant dramatic increase in surface area are needed for conversion, as in
interaction with enzymes prior to fermentation or anaerobic digestion, or in transesterification of oils for
biodiesel production. “Our main challenge,” remarked Fred Clarke, executive vice president of Arisdyne, “is to
help plants sort through the technology options and clearly demonstrate the economic value of adopting one
technology from the wide spectrum available in all areas of a plant. We believe the front end of a production
facility is the most efficient place to start and do so with minimal changes to the downstream processes.”
02/25/2012
ZeaChem
Signs Drop-In Fuel Development Contract
 Colorado-based ZeaChem has announced that it has completed negotiations and signed a
developmental contract with the US Department of Agriculture to receive $12 million of the $40 million grant awarded last September to University of Washington
(WOU). WOU's grant is for support of the Northwest Advanced Renewables
Alliance (NARA) public/private,
University-led biofuels collaboration. Winning teams included aspects of advanced
biofuels, biochemicals, bioenergy and biomass feedstock management companies. ZeaChem utilizes a hybrid
biorefinery technology platform where parallel thermal and microbial
processing pathways facilitate final production of a broad range of drop-in fuels and bio-sourced chemicals. For
this grant, ZeaChem will lead in commercial scale research, development and demonstration (RD&D) of
"drop-in" transportation fuels including biodiesel and bio-sourced aviation fuel at its facility in Boardman,
Oregon. “ZeaChem is pleased with the USDA’s support to establish a bioenergy economy in the Pacific Northwest,”
said Jim Imbler, president and chief executive officer of ZeaChem. “The grant allows ZeaChem to use our existing
integrated demonstration facility to develop advanced biofuels beyond cellulosic ethanol, including bio-based
jet, diesel and gasoline. The project highlights one of our unique strengths, which is that we can utilize a
variety of biomass feedstocks and proven processes to develop a wide range of economical and sustainable fuel
and chemical products.” 02/24/2012
UK
Researchers Advance Biofilm to Fuel Cell Electricity with Bugs from Space
 A research team at Newcastle University (NU) in the United Kingdom
has >announced that bacteria typically found 30 kilometers above the
earth are highly efficient electricity generators. Led by Dr. Grant Burgess, Professor of Marine Biotechnology at NU, the team
sorted through 75 different species of bacteria isolated from river-bottom sludge with the capacity to directly
generate electricity. Each species was tested for electrical output as part of a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC),
which work similar to a battery by using bacteria to convert organic compounds directly into electricity by a
process known as bio-catalytic oxidation. The iterative microbial selection and testing process allowed the team
to develop an engineered biofilm that almost double the output of the MFC from 105 milliwatts to 200 milliwatts
per cubic metre. Among the microbes with highest electrical generation capacity was Bacillus
Stratosphericus, which is commonly found in high concentrations in the stratosphere,
but was brought down to earth as a result of atmospheric
cycling processes. “What we have done is deliberately manipulate the microbial mix to engineer a biofilm that is
more efficient at generating electricity,” Dr. Burgess explains. “This is the first time individual microbes
have been studied and selected in this way. Finding B. Stratosphericus was quite a surprise but what it
demonstrates is the potential of this technique for the future – there are billions of microbes out there with
the potential to generate power.” Dr. Burgess' team's research has just been published in the American Chemical Society's Journal of
Environmental Science and Technology. 02/24/2012
GE Jenbacher Engines Will
Power China's Largest Landfill Gas to Energy Project
 General Electric (GE) has announced it is preparing to ship seven J420 Jenbacher engines to
Laogang Renewable Energy Company in Shanghai Municipality, China. The gas engines are scheduled for installation
later this year at the new Laogang Landfill Gas (LFG) facility in Shanghai, combusting 2.7 million cubic meters
each of LFG to generate about 10 megawatts of electricity (MWe). The Laogang Renewable Energy Company is a joint
venture between Veolia and Shanghai Environmental Group. GE notes that with a calorific value of approximately 5
kWh/Nm³, landfill gas is a high-value fuel for gas engines that can be effectively used for energy generation.
One of GE’s Jenbacher J420 gas engines running on landfill gas can generate 1.4 MWe while saving the emissions
of more than 49,000 metric tons of CO2-equivalent per year. The seven gas engines will provide an overall yearly
reduction of greenhouse gas of around 18.9 million cubic meters through methane destruction and displaced grid
electricity production. The new project supports the Chinese government’s 12th Five-Year Plan, during which
China plans to invest more than RMB$260 billion in waste treatment and waste-to-energy industrial initiatives by
2015. “Traditionally, landfill methane as a potent greenhouse gas has been released directly into the air,” said
Chen Hongzhang, general manager, Laogang Renewable Energy Co. “By using GE’s gas engines fueled by LFG, we
expect to save emissions by over 340,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, significantly improving the
local environment in Shanghai.” 02/24/2012
CalCEF,
ACORE and EPRI Lead 21st Century Renewable Energy Forum
 The California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF) announced its participation in the first of a series of forums this
week to outline the path of U.S. renewable energy in the 21st century. CalCEF was joined by the American Council
on Renewable Energy (ACORE) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), to lead the invitation-only roundtable, "Business Models for
Renewable Electricity in the 21st Century." The four panels addressed the regulatory framework, customer
relations models, emerging financing structures, and technological innovation. Participants included Dan Arvizu,
Director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL); Michael Howard, CEO of Electric Power Research
Institute; Doyle Beneby, president and CEO of CPS Energy; Marshal Salant, head of Citigroup’s Alternative Energy
Finance division; Michael Peevey, president of California Public Utilities Commission; Stanford University’s
Steyer Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance, the Climate Policy Initiative, and the National Renewable
Energy Laboratory. “Industry collaboration and new financing mechanisms are the keys to the widespread
deployment and integration of clean energy in America,” said Dan Adler, president of CalCEF and ACORE board
member. “The leaders who participated in the forum spoke candidly about the issues slowing the growth of
renewables, and it was heartening to see their perspectives steadily align over the course of the day. We
anticipate much more of the same over the coming year’s forums.” 02/24/2012
Alberta
Canada Supports Biochar Testing and Commercialization
 The Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification in Alberta, Canada
has announced federal funding of $900,000 to Lakeland College's Centre for Sustainable Innovation. The funds will
be used to acquire two mobile pyrolysis units to test, evaluate, and demonstrate biochar products for the
agricultural and environmental marketplace. Additional funds of $450,000 have been dedicated from the Alberta
Innovates Technology Futures (AITF) program. Biochar is the carbon-rich residue produced by
pyrolysis of organic matter such as agricultural and forestry waste, heating the feedstock in a low oxygen
environment. Biochar improves soil texture and crop productivity, and accelerates re-vegetation of uncultivable
lands. "This investment and corresponding research partnership with Alberta Innovates Technology Futures is a
perfect fit for Lakeland College as it relates to agricultural sciences, energy and environmental sciences -
three of our four programming pillars," said Glenn Charlesworth, President of Lakeland College. "The funding
from Western Economic Diversification Canada enables us to purchase the equipment needed to produce biochar and
ultimately help determine the environmental benefits and applications of this product."
02/23/2012
Novozymes Unveils Low-Cost / High Volume Cellic® CTec3 Enzyme
 In a bid to again drop the cost of enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic biomass,
the Denmark based pretreatment specialist Novozymes has announced the commercial availability of a new enzyme for production
of advanced biofuels from agricultural wastes and residues. The new cost-effective enzyme allows conversion of
biomass to ethanol 1.5 times more efficiently than the company's most recent offering, and requires only one
fifth the amount of enzyme compared to competing products. Novozymes states that using Cellic® CTec3 enzyme
makes the cost of cellulosic biofuels competitive with production of corn ethanol and gasoline. Biomass is first
broken down into a pulp, then mixed thoroughly with the enzymes to convert the pulp to fermentable sugar for
production of fuels, feed, and chemicals. Novozymes indicated that it takes only 50 kg of Cellic CTec3 to make 1
ton of ethanol from biomass, compared to at least 250 kg of a competing enzyme product to make the same amount
of ethanol. Early adopters include the Italian firm M&G Group who recently entered into a joint venture with Chemtex to form Beta Renewables, and
Maryland based Fiberight, whose partnership with Novozymes garnered a $25 million USDA loan guarantee just last month.
02/23/2012
Mt Poso
Cogeneration Plant Completes Coal-to-Biomass Fuel Switch
 Macpherson Energy Company and DTE Energy Services, co-owners of the Mt. Poso Cogeneration Plant in
Kern County east of Bakersfield, California have announced that the previously coal-fired plant is now completely
fueled by biomass. The conversion project began in November 2010, started producing small amounts of clean power
in November 2011, and is now operating at full capacity. Feedstock will be primarily wood waste from urban and
agricultural sources for generation of 44 megawatts of renewable energy. The Mt. Poso Cogeneration Plant takes
the water produced in Macpherson's nearby oil recovery activities and re-uses the water as steam to drive a
turbine to produce electricity. Excess steam is then returned as a steam flood to produce more oil. Power
will be sold to Pacific Gas and Electric Company under a long-term purchase agreement. "We are excited to see
Mt. Poso generate clean power at full capacity," said Steve Sorrentino, Vice President, DTEES. "The conversion
to biomass energy advances DTE Energy's commitment to green energy. It will ensure a reliable source of energy
with state-of-the-art technologies to preserve the environment. Most importantly, the project will bring
high-skilled jobs to the Bakersfield area." 02/23/2012
Due
05/08/2012: Applications for the 2012 Cleantech Open
 The volunteer-run Cleantech Open has announced the launch of its 6th annual Accelerator and Competition,
and scheduled a launch party at the NASA AMES facility in Mountain View, California on March 23, 2012. Since
2006, the Cleantech Open has helped accelerate the business development of clean technology entrepreneurs,
awarding over $5 million in cash and services to well over 500 companies. Of the nearly 600 companies assisted,
80% remain viable and have raised external capital exceeding $660 million. For 2012, the organization has seven
active regions across the US, one region in France, and is forming more regions globally. Cleantech Open's
mission is "to find, fund, and foster entrepreneurs with big ideas that address today’s most urgent energy,
environmental, and economic challenges." Eligibility criteria and application instructions are available on-line; the process begins with determination of which
region to compete within and under what categories to apply. A calendar of key dates is available: entry fees increase after April 3,
2012; the submission deadline is May 8, 2012. Final judging and awards will take place in California on November
13-14, 2012. 02/23/2012
Ameresco
and Philadelphia Water Dept Partner for Wastewater to Biogas Plant
 Massachusetts based Amaresco has announced an agreement with the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Water
Department (PWD) to design, build and maintain a 5.6 megawatt, $47.5 million wastewater-to-biogas plant, named
the Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant (NEWPCP) Biogas Project. The facility will produce both heat and
power for use on-site, and is expected to save the utility $12 million during the contract's 16-year duration.
Ameresco notes that the project is expected to reduce carbon emissions by nearly 22,000 tons per year, which
equates to the removal of 4,833 cars off the road or the planting of 5,390 acres of pine forest. The agreement
initiates a public/private partnership with the City of Philadelphia that qualifies for federal grant funding
and helps achieve goals of Mayor Nutter's "Greenworks Plan." “The Philadelphia Water Department is a progressive
organization that recognizes the value and importance of environmental stewardship while cutting costs and
improving infrastructure,” said Michael T. Bakas, Senior Vice President of Ameresco. “As a part of this
contract, Ameresco developed an Economic Opportunity Plan that will bring green jobs to the local community.
Ameresco is looking forward to making this project a reality for the Philadelphia Water Department and the
residents of Philadelphia.” 02/22/2012
Out of Ashes BioEnergy Introducing Turtleback Biochar at BC Farmers
Market
 British Columbia (BC) based commercial horticultural services
company Out of Ashes BioEnergy Inc has announced availability of its new organic soil enhancement
product Turtleback® Biochar, product of thermal conversion of local sawmill
wood-waste and brush piles that otherwise would be burned. The new product will be launched at the Prince George
Farmers' Market on February 25th. Out of Ashes provides biomass furnaces, feedstock supply, installation and
servicing for heat generation to commercial greenhouse operators. The furnaces can be optimized for on-site
production of biochar for the greenhouse owners own use. Now, the company also offers its own commercial line of
biochar, developed to enhance soils through increased porosity and water holding capacity, and pH and nutrient
stabilization. Derived from an ancient Amazonian method, Biochar also reduces nitrogen losses and provides
habitat for beneficial soil microbes and fungi. Scott Scholefield, President of the company and a registered
professional forester, also notes that production of biochar diverts wood waste while capturing carbon.
02/22/2012
APP to
Deliver Waste-Sourced Syngas to National Grid Pipeline
 London-based Advanced Plasma Power (APP) has announced a project partnership with developer Progressive Energy to deliver plasma-generated waste-sourced synthetic
fuel gas to National Grid's pipeline for distribution. APP's to-specification
Bio-SNG is produced from waste using its GasPlasma system housed at the company's facilities in Swindon, United
Kingdom (UK), coupling a fluidized bed gasifier from Energy Products of Idaho (EPI), now owned by Finland's Outotec, and a plasma waste conversion
platform originally developed by Tetronics Ltd. APP notes that a standard small-foot-print Gasplasma
waste to energy facility will convert 150,000 tonnes of commercial waste and municipal solid waste (MSW) per
year to heat and power. Marcus Stewart, Future Distribution Networks Manager at National Grid said, “This
project is a great opportunity to look at the potential of Bio-SNG from both a technical and commercial
perspective. The project underlines our commitment to seeking economic and innovative ways to decarbonise
energy, while making the best use of the existing network.” 02/22/2012
Forest
Carbon Partners Launch Anticipates California's Offset Market
 New Forests Inc. has announced the launch of Forest Carbon Partners, an investment vehicle for private forestry project financing and
development designed for California's soon to be realized carbon offset market. With the launch, New Forests has
also announced closure on its first two fund transactions with clients describes only as a family forest owner
and a Native American tribe, to generate carbon off-set revenues on 11,000 acres of forest land in the western
US. The offsets are based on real, measurable and long-term carbon sequestration, in what the company sees as
California's position as second among the world's carbon markets in value. “New Forests is proud to build on our
record as a leading forest carbon investment manager with the launch of Forest Carbon Partners and the fund’s
first projects,” remarked David Brand, Managing Director. “As the California carbon market comes online, New
Forests believes that forest carbon projects will become a critical source of offset supply. Forest Carbon
Partners brings together a sophisticated understanding of both forestry and carbon markets to meet the demand
for high-quality carbon credits that ensure important co-benefits for family forest landowners and the
environment.” New Forests Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of New Forests Pty Limited of Sydney, Australia.
02/21/2012
Due
03/12/2012: Abstracts for American Academy of Sciences IC EST2012
 The American Academy of Sciences (AAS) has released its 2012 Call for Abstracts, a
Call for Exhibits and the opening of advanced registration for its 6th International Conference on
Environmental Science and Technology (IC EST2012), scheduled for June 25-29, 2012 in Houston, Texas. The
conference is designed "to provide a major interdisciplinary forum for presenting new approaches from relevant
areas of environmental science and engineering, to foster integration of the latest developments in scientific
research into engineering applications, and to facilitate technology transfer from well-tested ideas into
practical products, waste management, remedial processes, and ecosystem restoration. Reports on renewable energy
research are especially desired." Among the listed presentation topics are sections featuring
municipal and industrial wastewater biotreatment, waste gas control techniques, solid waste management, waste
recycling, microbial degradation, energy-related environmental problems, and a section addressing a variety of
biofuels. Abstract instructions and examples are available on-line; selected papers will be published in the
Proceedings of Environmental Science and Technology, and high-scoring papers will be considered for various
awards. 02/21/2012
UK
Carpet Recycling for Reuse and Energy Recovery on the Increase
 The non-profit association Carpet Recycling United Kingdom (CRUK) has released a short report counting last year's achievements and
identifying carpet recycling and recovery efforts for 2012. The organization counts landfill diversion last year
at 66,000 tonnes, increasing total carpet-associated waste diversion from 10% the previous year to 16.5% in
2011. Of the diversion total, 32,000 tonnes were recycled and reused directly by recovery of fiber and cleaning,
grading and cutting to carpet tile. The remaining 34,000 tons of non-recyclable yet energy-dense carpet material
then was sent for conversion to energy, primarily as heat for cement kilns. Carpet manufacturers participating
in CRUK's voluntary program decreased waste generation by 50%, representing a diversion rate for the seven
manufacturers of 85% in 2011 through closed-loop return of used carpet materials for recovery. Targets for 2012
include an increase in the total diversion rate to 20% of all used carpet and backing material, reaching 80,000
tonnes country-wide. The industry organization will work to increase the number of outlets for reuse, recycling
and energy recovery from 32 in 2011 to 40 in 2012, and aid its member manufacturers to collectively reach 100%
diversion. Membership now stands at an even dozen carpet manufacturers, with the major firm Headlam Group plc being the latest to join in September 2011. Keith
Yates of Headlam said: “We are pleased to join CRUK as core funders and look forward to playing an active role
in the organisation. As Europe ‘s leading floor covering distributor, we believe we can make a significant
contribution to the efforts already being made to improve recycling rates and achieve workable solutions to the
problems our industry faces in this increasingly important area.” 02/20/2012
Commercial-Scale Biodiesel Production
Uses Enzymatic Transesterification
 Florida-based 70CentsaGallon.com has let Teru Talk know that commercialization of an
enzymatic transesterification process has reached another milestone with availability of the Precision E2500
module. The core of the enzymatic biodiesel production system is a suite of enzyme-based biocatalysts developed
by Israel-based TransBiodiesel Ltd. in partnership with Pennsylvania's Purolite, and with the assistance of a 2009 award from the
Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation (BIRD-F) Energy program. TransBiodiesel's technology development immobilizes methanol-resistant lipase
enzymes to Purolite's ion exchange resins; the resulting granular material allows low temperature conversion of
a wide variety of waste and virgin plant and animal feedstock into clean, high-purity biodiesel. Current
transesterification biodiesel producers can retrofit existing equipment to replace use of harsh chemical
catalysts at elevated process temperatures (60-70° C) with the biocatalysts activated with much lower energy
input (10-35° C). The Precision modular line is specifically designed for enzymatic transesterification and
ranges from batch systems producing 100 gallons every 6 hours to the new E2500 continuous production process
module. Unlike industry-standard transesterification, the biocatalysts are not affected by water in the
feedstock oil, can be reclaimed with simple screening and reused for up to a year. The BIRD Foundation recently
opened its fourth grant funding cycle to advance US-Israeli technologic
development, with binational proposals due September 6, 2012; topics again include advanced and alternative
fuels and other renewable energy developments. 02/20/2012
Due
03/01/2012: Grant Applications for Woody Biomass Utilization Projects
 The US Forest Service's Technology Marketing Unit (TMU) housed at the Wisconsin
based Forest Products Laboratory has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking projects that need engineering
services for low-value biomass utilization to generate renewable energy while decreasing fire risk in rural
communities. Projects can generate electricity, heat, and/or fuels (liquid or gaseous) using only commercially
proven technologies; funding is to support engineering services required for final design and cost analysis.
Examples of eligible projects: proposals supporting final engineering design of a (1) woody biomass boiler for
steam at a sawmill, hospital or school, (2) non-pressurized hot water system for various applications, and (3)
biomass power generation facility. The RFP was published in the February 6, 2012 Federal
Register (pages 5755-5758). For technical questions, contact Susan L. LeVan-Green, Program
Manager, Technology Marketing Unit, Forest Products Laboratory, (608–231–9518), slevan@fs.fed.us. For questions
regarding the grant application or administrative regulations, review FPL's Hazardous Fuels 2012 RFP web page, and contact your appropriate Forest Service
Regional Biomass Coordinator at the address provided in the on-line Application Instructions. 02/18/2012
BioAmber, NatureWorks Form
Joint Venture to Bring New BioPolymers to Market
 Two Minnesota based companies, BioAmber and NatureWorks have announced formation of AmberWorks as a joint venture to speed
commercialization and market penetration of bio-based polymers. As a subsidiary of Cargill, NatureWorks has
brought its proprietary Ingeo suite of biopolymers into the plastics mainstream with the
capacity to make the to-specification materials from a wide range of non-petroleum, naturally-occurring
carbohydrates. Globally, numerous companies such as BlueFire's subsidiary SucreSource have begun to supply high volume, low cost clean sugars
from waste biomass, providing an expanding and diverse waste-sourced feedstock supply for BioAmber's first-step
conversion platform. In July of 2011, NatureWorks increased investment in its Blair, Nebraska plant in preparation for
commercial-scale production of Ingeo M700 branded anhydrous lactic acid, an intermediary biopolymer form a wide
range of commodity chemicals and products. Just last November, BioAmber proposed its initial public offering
(IPO) to support construction of commercial production facilities in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, and in Thailand, also partnered with the Japanese firm Mitsui & Co. for
construction of the Sarnia plant. BioAmber is increasing capacity for production of succinic acid and initiating
butanediol (BDO), both precursors to biopolymer production. With the joint venture, NatureWorks will now focus
on commercialization of a new family of Ingeo resin grade biopolymers for thermoforming and injection molding.
“The new product range being developed by the joint venture enables NatureWorks to broaden its existing product
portfolio, allowing for bio-based product solutions in applications that were previously difficult to address,”
said Marc Verbruggen, president and chief executive officer, NatureWorks. “The properties of PLA and PBS are
complementary and making Ingeo compounds using both materials will result in a broad and attractive property
profile for a number of different applications.” 02/16/2012
Due
02/29/2012: Comments to CPUC on Electric Program Investment Charge
 Last week, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) released its
Staff Proposal as Attachment A to Phase 2 of a Scoping Ruling
(Proceeding R1110003) on the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC).
The Scoping Ruling includes provisions to continue funding that expired with the Public Goods Charge (PGC) and
specifically would provide support for bioenergy research and development. At the end of 2011, the public goods
charge (PGC) expired, cutting funding for “public interest” investment in energy efficiency, renewables, and
research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D). The Legislature didn't reauthorize the PGC in
2011; Governor Brown asked the CPUC to develop and propose another mechanism. Responding, the CPUC adopted
D.11‐12‐035 on December 15,
2011, establishing the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) and directing staff in collaboration with the
California Energy Commission (CEC) to recommend EPIC implementation steps, programmatic structure,
administration and governance, and funding levels. This request for comments is the next step following CPUC and
CEC joint staff's submission of the proposed pathway. Interested parties are encouraged to provide comment by
February 29, 2012 on the staff proposal contained in Attachment A, particularly related to programmatic and
governance issues. Reply comments are then due March 9, 2012. A proposed decision will then be issued by the
CPUC Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Julie A. Fitch assigned to this Rulemaking by April 24, 2012, and heard by
the full commission on May 24, 2012. Comments should identify "Proceeding R1110003" and be submitted
electronically to the CPUC Public Advisors Office,. Questions may also be directed to the
Public Advisor's Office, at (866) 849-8390 (San Francisco area) or (866) 840-8391 (Los Angeles area).
02/16/2012
Due
03/07/2012: Proposals to SMUD for Biomethane Technical Services
 The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) Electronic Bid Solicitation System (EBSS) has posted a request for proposals (RFP# 120032.OS) for Biomethane Technical Services. An amount up to
$200,000 is available for the three year professional services contract for performance of technical, economic,
and environmental analysis for Biomethane projects and their applications. There is a particular focus on
projects at landfills, wastewater treatment, dairy digester, and anaerobic digestion or co-digestion of other
organic wastes such food waste and fats, oil and grease (FOG). Under SMUD direction, the selected services
provider will help "review and prioritize the biomethane acquisition opportunities that are most favorable,
taking into account cost, timing, location, amounts, and biogas cleaning and utilization
options," and assist in feasibility assessment for the sort list of potential projects. Tasks
will include a regional (1) Resource Assessment, (2) development of a Conceptual Design, (3) outline of basic
process flow diagram and equipment list for projects, include mass and energy balance, (4) an Economic Analysis
with high level capital and operating cost estimates and levelized cost analysis of the project, (4) an
Environmental Assessment, (5) a Deliverability Assessment, (6) a Counter-Party Review, and (7) provide
Competition and Timing Recommendations. Proposals are due at 5:00 pm, local time, Wednesday, March 7, 2012 to
the Supply Chain Services Office at 6201 S Street, Sacramento, California. For questions about the RFP, contact
Oscar Santos at (916) 732-5616, or. 02/16/2012
SucreSource Contracts to Design and Build Korean Wood-to-Sugar Facility
 California-based SucreSource, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BlueFire Renewables, Inc, has announced signing a cellulose-to-sugar systems supply contract with a
Korean petroleum firm GS Caltex. SucreSource will supply the design package, procure the
equipment, and provide the technical and engineering support necessary to and construct the process train using
the company's proprietary conversion systems; GS Caltex will own and operate the facility. The plant will
convert about 2 tons of waste-sourced woody debris into a mix of sugars that will then be further refined by GS
Caltex into commodity chemicals. Following initial operational validation, the two companies plan to scale up
for fully commercial facility development in Korea and globally. SucreSource's main focus remains in
optimization of the ARKENOL concentrated acid hydrolysis technology that is the core of
BlueFire Renewables' biorefinery capability; the process economically converts low-value biomass into
higher-value sugar feedstock for further refinement. The company was established to facilitate sublicensing and
joint venture agreements for the conversion process train, to meet the growing global market demand for low
cost, clean fermentable sugars. "This agreement validates SucreSource's business model of selling its cellulosic
sugars and, as in this case, sugar producing process to synergistic back end proprietary chemical companies to
produce high value products," said Arnold Klann President & CEO. "As a major petroleum producer, GS Caltex
is a perfect partner with which to initiate the business build out. Korea, like the U.S., China, and several
other nations, is moving away from food-based sugars to produce high-end products such as biobutanol, ethanol,
ethyl levulinate and various other chemicals. SucreSource is a first mover in this space and
has the proven technology to meet this increasing cellulosic sugar demand head-on. This facility will be the
first of many to be built." 02/15/2012
Capstone
Supplies Microturbine for Philippines Biogas to CHP
 California-based Capstone Turbine Corporation announced that its Asia-Pacific distributor Sobono Energy has secured a contract to supply and install a Capstone
C800 microturbine power package to Biotech Farms, Inc. Biotech Farms, located in Banga, South Cotabato
Philippines, is one of the country's largest integrated hog and poultry husbandry operations. The microturbine
will be fueled with biogas generated from anaerobic digestion of the farm's animal wastes, supplying sufficient
renewable energy to self-sustain operations. Capstone Turbine has shipped over 6,000 Capstone
MicroTurbine(R) systems to customers worldwide; this is the first systems sale in the Philippines.
Sobono Energy is a Singapore based "Green and Clean Energy Solution" integrator, providing on-site electricity,
along with chilled and hot water. "Biotech Farms is a world class, innovative farm in the global agricultural
community," said Wee Khoon Oh, Sobono Energy's Founder and Managing Director. "They intensely evaluated
different options to use their biogas to generate power and selected a Capstone microturbine because of its ease
of maintenance and high reliability. Capstone has a worldwide reputation for environmentally friendly biogas
applications." 02/15/2012
Oregon
DEQ Conversion Technology Rulemaking Advances
 The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality announces that it has now formed an Advisory Committee to provide on-going support for its Conversion Technology (CT) Rulemaking process, and has held its first
public meeting on January 27, 2012. The meeting summary and presentations are available online, including
"Gasification of Municipal Waste Using the InEnTec Plasma Enhanced Melter®" by Jeff Surma, CEO of S4 Energy
Solutions, LLC. In a Briefing Paper developed prior to the meeting, DEQ program coordinator
Bob Burrows provided a clear scope for Oregon's CT considerations: "The term “conversion technology” encompasses
a broad range of technologies that are used to convert solid waste into useful products, chemicals and fuels.
Conversion technology facilities represent the next evolutionary step of solid waste material recovery systems,
diverting organic (carbon containing) solid wastes from the traditional disposal activities of land filling and
MSW combustion. For the purposes of this paper direct combustion of solid waste, utilizing the heat to create
electricity (sometimes called “waste-to-energy” or “WTE”) is not considered a conversion technology." DEQ is
developing a rule proposal that would define conversion technology, establish performance standards and solid
waste permit requirements for conversion technology facilities. If adopted, the proposed rules would establish
regulatory clarity through performance standards and solid waste permit requirements for conversion technology
facilities. This would assure environmental protection, establish an appropriate fee schedule for this new
permit category and provide regulatory certainty for emerging technology providers and DEQ staff. Refer to
the CT Rulemaking webpage, or contact Mr. Burrows for further information
at or at (541) 687-7354. 02/15/2012
ADBA
Launches Advisory Service for Farm-Based Anaerobic Digestion
 The Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA) has announced the launch of a free advisory service for United Kingdom (UK) farmers to assist in the
complex decision-making process involved in developing on-farm anaerobic digestion (AD). The new service is
being introduced today during the Energy Now Expo at the Malvern Showground in Worchestershire. Parties
interested in considering anaerobic digestion projects on their farms can submit a one-page questionnaire on the
ADBA website to receive a half hour free initial screening consultation and written summary recommendations from
an ADBA member specialist to help determine if anaerobic digestion could be a viable option for their business.
Last November, ADBA released two key AD guidance documents in collaboration with the UK’s Waste
& Resources Action Programme (WRAP), as part of the country's aggressive Anaerobic Digestion
Strategy and Action Plan. The guides help organize a project developer's approach in a form acceptable for
financing due diligence, and provide a review of funding and financing mechanisms currently available for UK
efforts. For further information, email Rosaline Hulse, Communications & Systems
Executive,. 02/15/2012
Due
03/09/2012: Abstracts for EFIB 2012 - "The Bioeconomy Goes Global"
 The 2012 European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and Biobased Economy
(EFIB 2012) organizers are accepting submission of proposed papers for this year's conference,
scheduled for October 16-18, 2012 in Dusseldorf, Germany. This year's theme is "The Bioeconomy Goes Global" and
the overall conference program is currently being developed. Nathalie Moll, Secretary General at EuropaBio
anticipates another good level of participation from industry figures this year; “In continuing the history of
high calibre speakers at EFIB, we hope to hear from top experts in the field of industrial biotechnology on how
to take the bio-economy to the next level in Europe”. Submissions should include a title and presentation
outline, with name, job title and organization, and be sent to by the deadline of
Friday, March 9, 2012. 02/15/2012
Due
03/15/2012: Abstracts for Gasification Technologies Council Conference
 The Gasification Technologies Council (GTC) has issued a Call for Papers for the 2012 Gasification Technologies Conference,
scheduled for October 28-31, 2012 in Washington, D.C. The GTC's mission is to promote a "better understanding of
gasification's role in power, chemical and refining industries with economically competitive and environmentally
conscious technology options to produce electricity, fuels and chemicals." Among the topics of special interest
sought for presentations for this year's conference agenda: Gasification's Role in Energy Policy, Biomass and
Waste Gasification, Gasification Projects & Technology Updates, Gasification for Chemicals and Fuels,
Gasification for Power, Gasification-Based Polygeneration and Carbon Dioxide Management. Last year's GTC
Conference was held in San Francisco from October 10-12, 2011; many of the presentations are available on-line with that expo's agenda and besides being
informative, are good guides for this year's presentation development. Among the highlights were detailed
updates on Uhde's PRENFLO and HTW gasification technologies, a summary of compact gasifier tests from Pratt
& Whitney Rocketdyne, and presentations on biomass gasification from Ze-Gen, S4 Energy Solutions, Carbona
and Taylor Biomass Energy. Abstracts for this year's conference should be submitted on-line by March 15, 2012. Contact Marie Kent at GTC,
703-276-0110 with any questions. 02/15/2012
Dutch-Portuguese Research Advances Hydrogen Production from Lignocellulose
 A provisional pre-publication article has been released by the journal "Biotechnology for Biofuels,"
reporting on collaborative work to optimize microbial hydrogen production from cellulosic biomass. Researchers
at Portugal's Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, and at the
Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark describe in their publication how
continuous, high-volume hydrogen production (H2) can be achieved through mixed-microbial culture anaerobic
digestion of lignocellulose-sourced arabinose at elevated (thermophyllic) temperatures. Significantly higher H2
production was obtained by catabolism of the arabinose than from glucose conversion, especially at higher
processing rates. Although considerable research has over the years outlined optimal fermentation of diverse
sugars to ethanol, direct second generation conversion to hydrogen for fuel and chemistry is seen as an
increasingly critical realm of advanced bioconversion research. The team notes, "… Second generation hydrogen
fermentation technologies using organic agricultural and forestry wastes are emerging. The efficient microbial
fermentation of hexoses [C6 sugars] and pentoses [C5 sugars] resulting from the pretreatment of lignocellulosic
materials is essential for the success of these processes." 02/14/2012
Joule
Awards EPCM Contract to Fluor for Commercial Scale Biorefinery in NM
 Texas-based Fluor Corporation has announced it has secured a contract from Joule Unlimited, Inc for the
engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) to design and build a new biorefinery in New Mexico
(NM). The commercial-scale plant is intended to be a demonstration of Joule's existing pilot operations, and is
based on the company's proprietary HeliocultureTM technologic platform. Helioculture converts
carbon dioxide-laden emissions and sunlight for direct synthesis of alkane and olefin molecules, foundation
materials for biofuels and chemicals production. Massachusetts based Joule closed a $70 million third funding round last month that will now be used to
design and develop the New Mexico testing and optimization facility. Fluor's Greenville, South Carolina office
will lead the project; Lou Del Tufo, Fluor’s senior vice president of Energy & Chemicals and Fluor's
Biofuels business team, noted: "As a leader in the engineering and construction sector, we believe that the
Joule demonstration facility affords Fluor an opportunity to showcase our integrated solutions and assist in the
commercialization of this critical technology. We look forward to serving Joule on this project and hope to work
with them as they solidify their position as one of the most innovative and forward-thinking technology
companies in a rapidly growing global biofuels industry." 02/14/2012
Foster
Wheeler Secures Swedish Contract for 35 MWe Bioenergy Plant System
 Swiss engineering company Foster Wheeler announced that its Global Power Group has been awarded a contract to design, construct,
supply, and install a 35 megawatt electric biomass-fired circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler island. The
project owner, the municipally-owned energy company Lunds Energi of southern Sweden, has now given Foster Wheeler a notice
to proceed, with scheduled start of commercial operations set for the second quarter of 2014. The CFB will be
designed to convert 100% biomass to steam for electricity generation; up to 50% of that feedstock will be
demolition-sourced woody waste. This combined heat and power CHP biopower plant will replace Lunds' existing
fossil fuel driven equipment. Tomas Harju-Jeanty, President and Chief Executive Officer of Foster Wheeler
Energia Oy Group, commented: “The fuel flexibility of Foster Wheeler’s CFB technology provides an excellent
solution for biomass power generation because it can utilize a wide range of renewable and waste fuels. Our CFBs
can divert waste headed for landfills and instead convert this waste into valuable steam and electricity.”
02/14/2012
Forest Products Lab Reports
on Use of Beetle Killed Trees for Renewable Energy
The US Forest Service's Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) has announced the release of a market-oriented status report
entitled "Economic Use of Beetle Killed Trees", laying out a strategic framework
for making good use of this ever-increasing product of infestations. Evergreens rely on liquid sap as a
deterrent to the many kinds of highly destructive beetles. During these prolonged periods of higher-than-usual
temperatures and extended drought conditions in many areas of North America, the feeding damage from the
beetle's larvae has been causing catastrophic timber loss. The infested wood has far less value than virgin
timber, quickly degrading below "lumber grade", and the sheer tonnage of wood to be managed in the dead swaths
of trees presents a landscape-scale challenge. The report notes that where timbering infrastructures exist, it
is best to support introduction of the damaged trees as feedstock, even if specialized equipment needs to be
developed. Where this infrastructure is not well developed, FPL recommends: 1) Develop and commercialize new
value‐added uses that
have economic and market potential on a scale that matches the scale of forest biomass available and justifies
the capital investment required, and 2) Develop, demonstrate, and implement new cost‐effective technologies for using the forest biomass available for
energy production in local electric generating facilities and combined heat and power (CHP) facilities. FPL
seeks to partner toward such efficient biomass conversion development, and is a founding member of the
Bioenergy Deployment Consortium (BDC). The BDC is a group of 24 companies whose objectives are to get
efficient and economical bioenergy facilities deployed to help industry and the nation.
02/13/2012
DOE
Multi-Year Biomass Program Plan and Presentations Available
 The US Department of Energy (DOE) hosted a webinar last week, providing a status report and thorough introduction
to the draft Biomass Roadmap released last November. The Multi-Year Biomass Program Plan was introduced formally at a workshop
last December. A wealth of detailed presentations from that workshop are now available on-line at the
"Conversion Technologies for Advanced Biofuels" (CTAB) website, and were covered during last week's webinar.
Presentations from the December workshop fall within three categories: (1) Introduction to the Roadmapping
Sessions, (2) Upgrading Biomass Derived Intermediates, and (3) Production of Biomass Derived Intermediates. A
special session presentation addresses hybrid biochemical / thermochemical processing systems. The program
plan, or "roadmap", is now slated for finalization and publication in late 2012 and will "examine the technical
challenges that must be overcome to commercially develop interchangeable, "drop-in" replacements for gasoline,
diesel, and jet fuel made from biomass." The DOE's Biomass Program is managed by the Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy (EERE), and will stage numerous additional sessions this year toward finalizing the new
roadmap, including Biomass 2012, "Confronting Challenges, Creating Opportunities" to be
held in Washington DC on July 10-11, 2012. 02/13/2012
Wyss
Institute Combines Shrimp Shells and Silk Protein to Make "Shrilk"
 Harvard University has announced that researchers at its Wyss Institute for Biologically
Inspired Engineering are micro-layering the chitin from discarded shrimp shells and the protein fibroin from
silk to make "shrilk". Shrilk is a thin, clear, formable plastic-like material that is as strong as aluminum and
is completely biodegradable. Chitin occurs in many natural substances from insects to shell-fish, providing
ready supplies of biological and waste-sourced feedstock for large-scale production. Wyss Institute's founding
director Dr. Donald Ingber has noted that the US Food and Drug Administration
has already approved the ingredients in shrilk, facilitating use in many applications in medical and food
industries. The readily degradable composition aids in composting or disposal, while the break-down products are
functional fertilizers. Dr. Ingber and graduate student Javier Fernandez found the key to shrilk in the natural
layering of chitin and protein in insect's natural shell architecture: “Much of the structural properties found
in nature are not just chemistry, they’re architecture.” Dr. Ingber was the first researcher to recognize that
tensegrity architecture (in which a system stabilizes itself mechanically by balancing local compression with
continuous tension) is a fundamental principle in the way living organisms are structured at the nanometer
scale. The research article, "Unexpected Strength and Toughness in Chitosan-Fibroin Laminates Inspired by Insect
Cuticle" has been published in the December 2011 edition of the journal Advanced
Materials. 02/13/2012
USFS Landscape-Scale Proposal Selected for Final Pilot in NEPA
Program
 The US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS) and the White House Council on Environmental Quality
(CEQ) have announced selection of a Forest Service proposal for the
fifth and final pilot in a new program designed to increase federal environmental review efficiency and reduce
overall assessment and implementation costs. The CEQ began the program to "Modernize and Reinvigorate" the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) two years ago. The CEQ released a solicitation in March 2011 to federal agencies for pilot project nominations, and eventually selecting a total of five.
The White House then issued a Presidential Memorandum, "Speeding Infrastructure Development through
More Efficient and Effective Permitting and Environmental Review" directing the agencies to implement the
selected pilots and with the information gained, expedite review of high-priority projects while retaining
public transparency and accountability. Earlier this month, USDA Secretary Vilsack announced release of a new report, "Increasing the Pace of Restoration
and Job Creation on Our National Forests", linking the expedited NEPA pathway for use of renewable and
non-renewable resources to the Administration's overall mandate to create Jobs. The selected pilot, "Approaches
to Restoration Management" will evaluate and compare the effectiveness of USFS environmental reviews for two
forest restoration projects and identify best practices that can be applied to environmental reviews for future
restoration projects. The pilot project will compare methods used for the landscape-scale Four Forest
Restoration Initiative (4FRI) in Arizona and the smaller-scale 5-Mile Bell project in Oregon.
The 4FRI is an effort to collectively manage portions of four contiguous National Forests. The pilot includes
the first restoration project under consideration, which would cover approximately 1 million acres. For the
5,000 acre Bell Landscape Management Project, the USFS will engage local, state and tribal partners in the
environmental review process up front to collaboratively prepare the environmental review and implement the land
restoration project. 02/12/2012
WTEC
Selected for Kelly Lake Metis Settlement Waste to Energy Installation
 Waste to Energy Canada (WTEC) has announced that the company has been selected for installation of
waste-fueled gasification systems development by the Kelly Lake Metis Settlement Society (KLMSS). A member of
the British Columbia, Canada Metis Federation (BC Metis; BCMF), KLMSS completed a three year feasibility study leading to
WTEC's selection. The detailed assessment will now be followed by a waste stream characterization supported by
British Columbia's (BC) non-profit FPInnovations, who recently were awarded $700,000 from BC's Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation to
advance the province's bio-economy. For this power plant, WTEC will utilize two continuous-feed gasification
retorts to convert about 400 tonnes per day of waste-sourced feedstock to combined heat and power, on a site
near Tomslake that offers grid access. The feedstock will primarily come from forestry residues, including
expansive dead-wood clearances resulting from pine beetle infestations. Regional municipal solid waste (MSW) is
a likely source being considered, as well as wastes generated during oil and gas industrial operations. KLMSS
President Lyle Letendre notes, “Our goal is to produce approximately 15 MW of electricity to the local grid. In
addition we are excited about the possibility of using the remaining balance of thermal energy from the facility
to heat greenhouses for local food production and seedlings for forestry,” commented Letendre.
02/11/2012
German AD Pilot Plant to
Focus on Optimizing Conversion of Variable Food Waste
 Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and
Biotechnology (IGB) has announced the impending start-up of a pilot anaerobic digestion (AD)
facility for optimizing conversion of highly-varied types of food waste. The plant is located adjacent to
Stuttgart's main wholesale market and should begin operations early this year. The market location will allow
"absolutely everything it can generate" to be utilized by the immediate community. Fraunhofer research led by
Dr.-Ing Ursula Schließmann, head of department at IGB, will focus on development of a full processing train for
receipt, storage, characterization and AD conversion of waste fruits and vegetables into methane-rich biogas for
upgrading and compression to transport fuel. Pre-consumer food waste typically exhibits high moisture content
and very low lignocellulosic content, characteristics that make it valuable for rapid digestion to biogas. The
wastes also can vary dramatically from acidic to basic pH value, a variability that makes optimal selection and
maintenance of the microbial population very difficult. Dr. Schließmann explains: “We hold the waste in several
storage tanks, where a number of parameters are automatically calculated – including the pH value. The specially
designed management system determines exactly how many liters of waste from which containers should be mixed
together and fed to the microorganisms.” Other institutional and industrial members of the ETAMAX project
research team will then feed the system's effluent to algae, clean and upgrade the biogas for transport fuel and
in the case of Daimler AG, provide various experimental vehicles to run on the resulting compressed syngas fuel.
The five-year project received EUR 6 million in support from the German Federal Ministry of Education and
Research (BMBF). 02/11/2012
Due
05/18/2012: Conservation Innovation Grant Applications to NRCS California
 The California office of the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS-CA) of the US Department of Agriculture has announced May 18, 2012 as the California region submission deadline
for the 2012 Conservation Innovation Grant-California (CIG-CA) funding opportunity (USDA-NRCS-CA-12-003). Through the CIG program, the NRCS leverages
public and private collaboration and multiple funding sources to "stimulate the development and adoption of
innovative conservation approaches and technologies." NRCS has consistently funded on-farm waste to energy
development, and again includes this among eligible project categories. Of approximately $20 million available
nationally, up to $375,000 has been allocated for the competitive California grants program, of which each
selected project may receive up to $75,000. The NRCS-CA has designated eight topics sought for this year's
project proposals: (1) Optimal combinations of nutrient source, application rate, placement and timing that
improve nutrient recovery by crops; (2) Procedures for refining the usefulness of the phosphorous index in
reducing phosphorous losses; (3) Suites of conservation practices that protect water quality; (4) Renewable
energy systems that reduce the use of fossil fuels and increase energy efficiency on farms; (5) The impacts of
cover crops, crop rotations, tillage and other conservation practices on soil health; (6) Conservation practices
that increase the water-holding capacity of soils; (7) Decision tools that help producers assess their
operations and conservation needs in order to improve wildlife habitat; and (8) Assess the technology transfer
potential of completed CIG-CA projects. The CIG-CA announcement provides detailed
proposal requirements. Completed applications must be simultaneously posted onto www.grants.gov and
sent to Erik Beardsley, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 430 G Street, #4164, Davis, CA 95616-4164. For
questions, please contact Erik Beardsley by email at or call (530) 792-5649, or Alan
Forkey, Program Manager, at or call (530) 792-5653. 02/11/2012
Bio-Methatech Secures Vermont Dairy Waste to Biogas to Energy Project
 Canadian green energy developer Bio-Methatech has signed a contract to install an anaerobic digester processing system
for the Riverview Farm in Franklin, Vermont. Bio-Methatech manufactures and installs the well-established
LIPP GmbH digester systems, constructing LIPP's patented quick set-up
Double-Fold® seam, double-layer Verinox insulated and internally heated tank systems for the fully-mixed and
automated digesters. Feedstock will consist of the dairy's manure, wash-water, farm waste and other organics.
Digestion temperatures between 37 and 42° Celsius (98-107° F) are optimized for methane production; the 60% to
70% methane biogas will fuel engines and drive the generators, while heat captured from the engines will
maintain thermal requirements of the digesters and provide heat for the surrounding buildings. The contracted
conversion systems are to being construction this spring, with the capacity to provide about 180 kilowatts of
electricity to power the dairy operations with excess sold back to the regional utility grid. The residual is a
fibrous material useful as compost feedstock, as a non-odorous nutrient-rich soils amendment or once dried, as
animal bedding. Riverview maintains a herd of 450 dairy cows, the farm was the recipient of a
$429,703 loan and a grant of $214,851 in conditional support from the US Department of Agriculture's "Rural
Energy for America Program" (REAP) last October 2011. Final award funding is contingent upon
meeting the specific conditions of the grant or loan agreement. 02/10/2012
Hershey
Integrates Recycling and Conversion for Zero-Waste-to-Landfill
 The Hershey Company has announced that three of its main manufacturing facilities have reached
"Zero-Waste-to-Landfill" (ZWL) status through the company's sustainability efforts. The company's Reese plant in
Hershey, Pennsylvania achieved ZWL status in 2010, where no routine manufacturing waste is allowed to leave the
facility for disposal. The company's West Hershey, Pennsylvania plant reached ZWL status last October, and the
Hazelton plant reached this status earlier this month. Hershey is underway with a $200 to $225 million expansion
to the West Hershey plant that should be completed later this year. Both the construction of the expansion and
the revamped facility itself are designed to be ZWL compliant. This group of facilities together recycles about
90% of all waste generated from plant operations; the remainder is shipped as refuse derived fuel to local
waste-to-energy plants in Bainbridge and Harrisburg, PA. In addition, systems for anaerobic digestion of onsite
organics-laden wastewater and capture of the resulting biogas production have now been integrated with four
plants in Stuarts Draft, Virginia, Robinson, Illinois, and Lancaster and Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Hershey's has a
long history of sustainability; the company's founder, Milton Hershey, started the first recycling center in
Hershey in 1937, long before recycling and reducing waste were common practices. “We are proud of our role as
stewards of the environment and of our progress in eliminating waste from our operations,” said Terence O’Day,
Senior Vice President of Global Operations at The Hershey Company. “We achieved ZWL at these facilities through
a rigorous process of eliminating waste, recycling and converting waste to energy. Our employees understand the
importance of sustainability across our company and are working together to reach our reduction goals.”
02/10/2012
Lignol
Awarded $2.06MM Additional SDTC Funding for Biorefinery Technologies
 Lignol Innovations, Ltd has received an award of $2.06 million in additional funding from Sustainable
Development Technology Canada (SDTC). Lignol Innovations is a wholly owned subsidiary of
Lignol Energy Corporation, an advanced biofuels and biochemicals
company based in British Columbia, Canada. The funding is in addition to the $4.72 million received so far from
SDTC, and is intended to further support project development of the integrated cellulosic ethanol facility
supported by the initial funding. Lignol’s fractionation technology produces clean substrates that are ideal
inputs for the cellulosic ethanol, pulp and paper and green chemical industries. The expanded funding will now
enhance overall biorefinery technologies, especially improvement of hemicellulose-derived sugars and
demonstration of use of its lignin fraction in bioplastics and other commodities. Lignol's modified solvent
based pre-treatment technology facilitates the rapid, high-yield conversion of cellulose to ethanol and the
production of value-added biochemical co-products, including the high purity HP-L™ lignin. “The additional
funding from SDTC is an important contribution that will enable us to enhance the economic viability of our
biorefinery technologies, while maintaining significant GHG reduction benefits,” said Ross MacLachlan, President
and CEO of Lignol. “These enhancements will allow smaller, higher-yield biorefineries to be built with strong
regional demand for Lignol’s bioproducts, resulting in a more rapid and more diverse deployment of this
transformative technology.” 02/10/2012
Neste
Oil & Raisio: Integrating Ag Waste Conversion and Food Production
 Two Finnish giants in their own fields have announced a collaborative effort to integrate and optimize all aspects
of the biofuel and food industries. Neste Oil and Raisio, in a joint presentation in Helsinki entitled, "From
Sidestreams to Highways", explored the opportunities offered by raw agricultural bi-product material utilization
and the many issues that until now have brought about the confrontational "Food vs. Fuel" paradigm. For years,
the companies have focused their collaboration on very specific targets through Neste's use of surplus and
residuals from Raisio's animal feed and grocery food production for conversion to Neste's low emissions
NExBTL biofuel. Going forward, the companies will consider a broad
array of opportunities where Raisioagro, a subsidiary of Raisio plc, manages its agricultural pursuits to
maximize efficiency of biomass residuals growth, harvesting and aggregation, while Neste broadens its ability to
convert the more diverse feedstock supply in ways that improve the economics and environmental sustainability of
both the food and the biofuel production. Raisioagro is an international specialist in plant-based nutrition,
with key market areas in Finland, Great Britain, Sweden, Russia, Ukraine, Poland and the Baltic Countries. Neste
is building its pilot Technology Center in Porvoo, Finland to commercialize waste-sourced
microbial oil production; "Microbes can produce oil from an extensive range of agricultural and industrial waste
and by-products," explains Neste Oil's Senior Vice President, Technology and Strategy, Lars Peter Lindfors.
"10-13% of straw, for example, can be converted into microbial oil that can provide an excellent feedstock for
our NExBTL renewable diesel. This fits very well with Neste Oil's goal of increasing the amount of waste,
sidestreams, and by-products we use in our raw material procurement." 02/09/2012
Celtic
Renewables Wins £40,000 Shell Springboard Award
 The new Scottish startup Celtic Renewables has just received a £40,000 Shell Springboard award for its advanced biofuels
production from Scottish malt whisky industrial wastes. Celtic acquired rights to the waste conversion process from the Edinburgh Napier University last
year, to turn whisky production "pot ale" and "draff" residues in a modified acetone-butanol-ethanol
fermentation to advanced butanol for transport fuel and green chemical production. The Shell Springboard award comes from the UK Social Investment program,
fully funded and managed by Shell to provide a financial boost to United Kingdome (UK) based, small to medium
sized enterprises with innovative, low carbon business ideas. Angus Gillespie, Shell Vice President for CO2
Strategy: “Through Springboard, Shell aims to encourage others to innovate as well, helping to support the
transition to a lower carbon economy and seizing this new market opportunity. It’s our belief that the
innovative services and technologies that small businesses provide can make an important contribution to
reducing the UK’s carbon emissions. I congratulate Celtic Renewables on their success, and wish all of our
finalists the very best for the future.” 02/09/2012
Noble
Mansfield Renewable Energy Formed to Merge Biofuels Marketing
 Hong Kong headquartered Noble Group and Gainesville, Georgia based
Mansfield Oil Company have jointly announced the merger of their biofuels marketing divisions, with the
launch of Noble Mansfield Renewable Energy. The new company will be based
in Bloomington, MN, currently the home of Mansfield’s C&N ethanol marketing business. Noble and Mansfield
currently deliver over 20 billion gallons of fuel and ethanol annually; merging marketing capabilities will
streamline operations and open market opportunities for both companies. William (Bill) Covey, who has been
leading Noble’s ethanol plant marketing business, has been named CEO, and Jon Bjornstad, founder of Mansfield's
C&N Ethanol Marketing, will continue as the new organization’s President. “Ethanol Producers need a
financially secure marketer with large operating scale, direct access to global markets, and a full suite of
risk management services. This new organization offers plant partners access to unmatched risk management tools
and a scope of services on a global scale.” said Bill Covey. Noble was also attracted to Mansfield's access to
biofuels other than ethanol. Earlier this week, Mansfield Oil singed a strategic alliance, off-take and supply
chain management agreement with Dynamic Fuels (a joint venture between Syntroleum and Tyson Foods) to
market Dynamic's waste-sourced "drop-in" renewable diesel and other advanced biofuels.
02/09/2012
PTG
Secures $1MM from EIC Ventures for Wastewater to Energy
 California based Pasteurization Technology Group (PTG) has secured $1 million in support from EIC Ventures, an early-stage
venture capital investment fund whose director, David Dubé, is already a PTG Board Member and previous investor
in the company. PTG has developed and patented a technology platform that utilizes biogas from wastewater treatment
plant anaerobic digestion (AD) to drive a turbine for power generation, and then reclaims energy from the 900°
Fahrenheit exhaust in heat exchangers to pasteurize the effluent exiting the AD reactor. The disinfected water
may then be used for agricultural irrigation. The integrated combined heat and power (CHP) system achieves over
90% energy efficiency while accomplishing certifiable disinfection with only recovered waste heat as fuel. By
using a two-stage heat exchange system to first pre-heat process water from the AD vessel rather than allowing
the effluent to cool, far less energy is necessary to reach pasteurization temperatures. Greg Ryan, co-founder
and CEO of Pasteurization Technology Group: “We are currently fielding numerous requests from businesses across
a variety of industries that want to capture a precious resource—water—while generating renewable energy to
offset their electricity costs. Our technology offers a sustainable solution that fits well with current market
dynamics and a growing realization that water is a precious and valuable resource that cannot be wasted.”
02/08/2012
Update: Due 02/10/2012: Comments to IBI Biochar
Standards
 The stakeholder comment period on the proposed collaborative Guidelines for
Specifications of Biochars developed by the International Biochar Initiative (IBI) closes February 10, 2012. A
final draft of the proposed standards has been posted to IBI's website, and background information on the Biochar
Guidelines and documentation of the Biochar Guidelines creation process are posted to the IBI Biochar Guidelines page. The document defines Biochar as "a solid
material obtained from the thermochemical conversion of biomass in an oxygen-limited environment. Biochar can be
used as a product itself or as an ingredient within a blended product, with a range of applications as an agent
for soil improvement, improved resource use efficiency, remediation and/or protection against particular
environmental pollution, and as an avenue for greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement." It is important to note that the
Biochar Guidelines focus on the physical properties of biochar, not on the production methods or specific
feedstock, and therefore constitute performance-based rather than prescriptive guidance. The guidance is
intended to provide a framework for an international biochar certification program, and for use as a starting
point and general reference for national, regional and local product standards development efforts. The final
draft standards will be posted on-line, on March 5, 2012. Two public webinars have been scheduled to discuss the
standards on March 9 and 13, 2012; IBI is seeking input regarding timing and number of additional discussions
sessions, through an on-line survey. Following consideration of comments, the final draft
of the Guidelines document will be submitted for legal review, then presented to IBI membership for a week-long
balloting period now running from March 20-27, 2012. Email comments to the draft biochar standards
to . Questions regarding the program should be
directed to IBI Communications Director Thayer Tomlinson at (802) 257-5359. 02/08/2012
Quebec
to Invest $27MM in Enerkem, GreenField Ethanol's Waste-to-Fuels Plant
 Enerkem and GreenField Ethanol have announced the government of Quebec, Canada's intent to invest $27
million to help develop Quebec's first waste to advanced biofuels and bio-sourced chemicals plant. The financing
consists of an $18 million package from Quebec's Ministry of Natural Resources and a $9 million loan from
Investissement Québec. Enerkem will form a joint venture with
GreenField Ethanol to build and operate the cellulosic ethanol plant, to be located in Varennes, Quebec.
The Varennes facility will be Enerkem's third full-scale commercial
project. With headquarters in Toronto, GreenField Ethanol is one of Canada's largest and most efficient ethanol
producers, and is a founding member of the University of Sherbrooke Research Chair for second generation
biofuels. Enerkem's gasification technology cleanly converts post-recycling residual
municipal solid waste (MSW) into chemical-grade syngas, and then methanol, ethanol and other chemicals. The
waste feedstock will come from institutional, commercial and industrial sectors, and from construction and
demolition debris. The anticipated annual production capacity of this plant is approximately 38 million litres.
"By producing liquid transportation fuel from non-recyclable waste, this facility opens the door to the
emergence of a new energy sector and will allow for local sustainable management of our waste materials",
declared Vincent Chornet, Enerkem President and CEO. "Located on the site of Ethanol GreenField's current plant,
this project will represent one of the first integrations between an existing, first generation ethanol plant
and a new cellulosic ethanol plant." News of the funding from Quebec comes just one day after Enerkem filed its
registration forms for an initial public offering in the US and Canada.
02/07/2012
Vermont's Cow Power Program Has Energy Surplus, Calls for New Customers
 The Central Vermont Public Service (CVPS) helped launch the non-profit
Cow Power program in 2005; at the end of last month, the CVPS announced that its supply of farm-based biogas to energy had surpassed
the total demand of program participants for the first time. The CVPS together with the utility have put out a
call for new customer participation. In this novel program, customers can elect to pay a premium of about 4
cents per kilowatt to farm-generated electricity from anaerobic digestion (AD). Most of the premium supports AD
project development for participating farmers. "Our customers have put over $3 million in the program so far
through their enrollment in CVPS Cow PowerTM," CVPS Renewable Energy Program Manager Dave Dunn
said. "The 4-cent contribution makes a difference for all of these projects and helps provide
positive cash flow. With three new projects on line last year, and several in the works, we
need new Cow Power supporters to provide that premium for these new farm projects." The Anaerobic Digestion
Initiative Advisory Committee (ADIAC) in British Columbia, Canada, just launched their own cow power
program last month. The public/private Canadian program enjoys strong support from agencies, foundations and the
industrial sector; Octaform Systems reported on the program's official kick-off at this
year's Pacific Agricultural Show: "For around a dollar a day, Cowpower supporters can enhance the environmental
sustainability of every kilowatt-hour of electricity that their business, home or event consumes. These
kilowatts are enhanced with the environmental and social attributes that are generated by anaerobic digesters,
including reductions in greenhouse gas and odour emissions, and increased water and food safety, environmental
protection and nutrient recovery." 02/07/2012
Due 06/01/2012: Applications to USDA for Biofuel / Biorefinery Funding
 US Department of Agriculture announced release of Notice of Funds Available (NOFA) for two programs
last week, each to provide about $25 million in support of biorefinery and advanced biofuel development. The
first program provides quarterly subsidy payments for 2012 production of eligible advanced biofuels to producers
who have enrolled by October 31, 2011, converting renewable biomass (other than corn kernel
starch) to include cellulose, sugar and starch, crop residue, vegetative waste material, animal waste, food and
yard waste, vegetable oil, animal fat, and biogas. Program details were published February 2, 2012 in the
Federal Register on pages 5229 through 5232. The second NOFA, for
the Repowering Assistance Program, also allocates $25 million in support
for biorefineries in existence on or before June 18, 2008, to buy down eligible costs incurred in using
renewable biomass instead of fossil fuel for production of combined heat and power (CHP). The amount of the
payment will be based on (1) the cost effectiveness of the renewable biomass system; and (2) the percentage
reduction in fossil fuels used by that biorefinery. The maximum amount an individual biorefinery can receive
under the Notice is 50 percent of total eligible project costs up to a maximum of $10 million. Eligible costs
must be related to construction or repowering improvements, such as engineering design, equipment installation
and professional fees. The application deadline for this program to receive funds for Fiscal Year 2012 is June
1, 2012. For additional details, see the NOFA in the February 2, 2012 Federal Register pages 5232 through 5234. 02/07/2012
Enviva and E.ON Sign Multi-Year Wood Pellet Fuel Supply Agreement
 US based biomass fuel supply company Enviva has signed a pellet fuel off-take agreement with E.ON, one of the world's largest investor owned utilities. Enviva has
been providing wood chips and pellets to US and European customers since 2007 and focuses on sustainability.
Current biomass sources include residues, chips, bark and sawdust by-products, tree tops, branches, and other
forestry debris remaining after the trunk has been processed and shipped from the forest. In February of last
year, the company acquired its deep-water port terminal in the Port of Chesapeake, Virginia, and sent the
inaugural shipment to Europe at the end of December 2011. The
first shipment leaving port carried 28,000 metric tons of wood pellets to one of Enviva's European customers. In
November 2011, Enviva and ConocoPhillips formed a new company, Eco Biomass Technologies, for production and
distribution of torrefied biomass fuel. Also in November, E.ON increased its long-term European demand for
biomass with the start of construction on a 30 megawatt bioenergy facility in Scotland. The current multi-year
agreement with E.ON calls for supply of 240,000 metric tons of wood pellets per year, beginning in 2013. “Strong
agreements with companies like Enviva that are focused on growing biomass supply and share our views on the
importance of promoting sustainability are essential for us to invest in biomass generation,” said Jan
Groeneveld, manager biomass sourcing at E.ON. “Biomass is one of the lowest-cost renewable solutions available
and is a key part of helping us ensure that the lights stay on at a price that is affordable while helping to
protect the climate.” 02/06/2012
BC Bioenergy Network Awards $1.5MM for "Energy Garden" Project
 The British Columbia (BC) Bioenergy Network has invested $1.5 million in Fraser Richmond Soil & Fibre, a Harvest Power company, to support
diversion of organics from disposal to bioenergy generation. The funding has two parts; the first is a $1
million loan to build a commercial scale demonstration of Harvest Power's "High Solids Anaerobic Digestion"
(HSAD) technology for renewable energy generation and sale. The
demonstration plant is the core of Harvest's "Energy Garden", designed for the initial diversion of about 27,000
tons annually of food waste and municipal yard trimmings from BC landfills. The second is a grant of $500,000
toward acquisition of Harvest Power's pilot scale mobile HSAD testing unit that fits inside a standard shipping
container. The “Mobile Energy Harvester” will be used initially in Richmond before touring North America. The
testing unit will evaluate suitability of digestion of organic waste streams, enabling local communities to
evaluate and assess the economics, benefits and risks of deploying this innovative system. It
will also educate communities on the direct connection between their plate scrapings, technologies that address
recycling targets, and the contribution of such projects to the new bioenergy economy. Natural Resources Canada
has also invested $4 million for this project through its Clean Energy Fund program. Established in April 2008 with a $25
million grant from the BC government, the BC Bioenergy Network is an industry-led initiative to support
near-term bioenergy technologies and bioenergy capability in BC. 02/06/2012
Due 05/03/2012: Initial Concept Proposals for US-Israel Energy Projects
 The Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Energy program
has issued a call for proposals for renewable energy development projects. BIRD
Energy is a program sponsored by the US Department of energy and the Israel Ministry of Energy and Water
Resources, and is administered by the BIRD Foundation. To be eligible, a US-based company or University must
partner with an Israeli-based company or university, proposing collaborative research and development with a
high potential for commercialization. Areas of scope for this funding round include Solar Power, Alternative
Fuels, Advanced Vehicle Technologies, Smart Grid, Wind Energy or any other Renewable Energy or Energy Efficiency
technology. BIRD Energy is now in its fourth funding cycle. Of the last round's nine winners, one team proposal
addressed bioenergy: RAFAEL and Covanta Energy (Morristown, NJ) were funded to co-develop a biomass-to-fuel
mobile system. At its December 2011 Board meeting, the Foundation approved a total of $81 million as available
for this Energy-focused round; grants of up to $1 million per project will be awarded to winning submissions for
US-Israeli joint energy projects. Interested parties must first contact BIRD Energy to discuss concepts; initial concept submissions are due
May 3, 2012, followed by full proposals upon approval, by June 28, 2012. Selected project awards will be
presented September 6, 2012. 02/06/2012
BioNitrogen Secures LOI for 300K Short Tons per Year of Urea
Last August, Hidenet Secure Architectures Inc changed its name to
BioNitrogen Corp after acquiring BIO-SNG Technologies International Corp. Just seven months later, the company
has announced a letter of intent (LOI) with Iowa based United Suppliers
Inc for its purchase of up to 300,000 short tons annually of granular (prilled) urea, a high-nitrogen (46%)
fertilizer. The agreement will be for an initial term of three years, tentatively starting in late 2013. The
acquired technology platform converts low-grade agricultural residuals and other woody biomass into bulk urea.
Dried, cleaned and sized biomass is gasified; the raw producer gas is cleaned, upgraded, reformed through
catalysis to wet urea; the product is then dried and stored. Almost 100% of the carbon in the feedstock is
captured in the urea; sufficient electricity to run the facility and a commodity grade fly ash are the only
other bi-products. BioNitrogen focused on a modular, small-footprint design that can be co-located with abundant
feedstock sources, producing 15 tons per hour of urea for a design output of 124,200 tons per plant, per year.
“As agricultural retailers who do business throughout the United States we are challenged to keep up with the
dramatic changes that are happening in the agriculture industry.” states Mr. Matt Carstens, United Suppliers and
Vice President of Crop Nutrients, “We are committed to creating long-term relationships with both our
agricultural retail dealer owners and our suppliers. We are constantly developing innovative products, programs
and services and see a close and longstanding relationship with Dr. Collins and his team at BioNitrogen.”
02/05/2012
Enerkem Files for Initial Public Offering
Montreal's waste-to-biofuels company Enerkem has announced filing a Form F-1 for an initial public offering (IPO) with the US Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC). The company has concurrently filed a preliminary prospectus with Canadian
province and territory securities regulatory authorities, available from the System for Electronic Document
Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) database. Enerkem utilizes a thermal gasification
technology platform to convert post-recycling municipal solid waste
(MSW) into synthetic gas (syngas) rich in hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Syngas is cleaned and conditioned, then
catalyzed to form methanol, ethanol and a variety of bio-sourced chemicals and products; methanol is a chemical
building block for the production of secondary chemicals, such as acrylic acid, n-Propanol, and n-Butanol.
Enerkem's pilot plant in Sherbrooke, Canada has been in operation since 2003 and
has a throughput capacity of 4.8 metric tons per day. Iits Westbury Canada scale-up plant processes 48 tons per
day, or 1.3 million tons of feedstock per year. The company's first commercial facility is currently under construction in Edmonton,
Canada with a design capacity of 10 million gallons of drop-in biofuel per year. Enerkem has developed a
modular, copy-exact and scalable approach for equipment production and installation that will allow systems to
be manufactured by third parties as pre-fabricated, replicable modules under fixed-price contracts. This stage
of the IPO filings are preliminary; no price range or number of shares has been determined, and no stock
transfers can occur until the registration becomes effective. Goldman, Sachs & Co, Credit Suisse Securities,
and BMO Capital Markets will act as joint bookrunners. 02/05/2012
UK Health Agency to Fund New MSW Incinerator Study
 The United Kingdom Health Protection Agency (HPA) will fund a new assessment of the localized public health impacts of
well-run municipal waste incinerators (MWIs) from April of this year until March 2014. Two institutions within
the government's MRC-HPA Centre for Environment and Health will conduct the detailed
assessment, the Small Area Health Statistics Unit (>SAHSU), Imperial College London, and the Environmental Research
Group (ERG), King’s College London. Research will focus on potential links
between MWI emissions and human health within a ten to fifteen kilometer radius of MWIs now operating in England
and Wales. HPA chief executive Justin McCracken said: “It is important to stress that our current position on
the potential health effects of well run and regulated modern Municipal Waste Incinerators remains valid. This
is that while it is not possible to rule out adverse health effects from modern, well regulated municipal waste
incinerators with complete certainty, any potential damage to the health of those living close-by is likely to
be very small, if detectable. This view is based on detailed assessments of the effects of air pollutants on
health and on the fact that modern and well managed municipal waste incinerators make only a very small
contribution to local concentrations of air pollutants. However, we recognise that there are public concerns
about this issue and this study will provide valuable new evidence. HPA continually seeks to review and extend
the evidence base on which it bases its advice. We are therefore delighted to support this new study with
researchers from the MRC-HPA Centre for Environment and Health.” The HPA's previously published position supporting properly developed MWIs is
available on-line. 02/04/2012
Dynamic Fuels, Mansfield Oil Enter Advanced Biodiesel Distribution
Agreement
 Oklahoma-based Syntroleum Corporation has announced that Dynamic Fuels LLC, its 50/50 joint venture with Tyson
Foods Inc., have entered into a strategic marketing alliance, commercial off-take and supply chain management
agreements with Mansfield Oil Company. Dynamic Fuels has operated an advanced biofuel production facility
with a 75 million gallon per year design capacity in Giesmar, Louisiana since 2010, converting inedible fats and
greases as feedstock into middle distillate products such as renewable diesel and jet fuel. The plant produces
renewable diesel, naphtha and LPG, primarily ASTM D975 "drop in" renewable diesel requiring no engine
modification for use. Syntroleum's gas to liquid fuel (GTL) technology platform operates under license from
ExxonMobile, and includes Syntroleum® Process for Fischer-Tropsch (FT) conversion of synthesis gas, Synfining®
Process for upgrading FT liquid hydrocarbons into middle distillate products such as synthetic diesel and jet
fuels, and Bio-SynfiningTM technology for converting inedible fats and greases into middle distillate
products such as renewable diesel and jet fuel. Mansfield Oil currently markets and distributes over 2.5 billion
gallons of fuel per year to all 50 states and Canada; the new commercial off-take agreement expands Mansfield's
renewable fuel supply and Dynamic Fuel's access to fleet accounts. "We're impressed by Dynamic Fuels' position
as one of the leading renewable diesel producers in the United States and are confident they will remain the
industry leader and a key partner for us," said Doug Haugh, president of Mansfield Oil Company. "Through this
partnership, we're working to distribute renewable diesel directly to our fleet customers who are interested in
increasing the renewable content of the fuels they consume." 02/04/2012
CEC Schedules Combined Heat and Power Workshop for February 16th
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has scheduled a public workshop on
combined heat and power (CHP)for February 16,
2012. The purpose of the workshop to explore and seek comment from stakeholders on (1) new state estimates of
the technical and market potential for combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions, (2) motivations and barriers to distributed CHP development, and (3) the implications of the
Qualifying Facility Settlement Agreement on existing and future CHP systems. The workshop will be conducted by
the Lead Commissioner on the Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR), prepared as part of the IEPR Docket #12-IEP-01 proceedings. The formal Order Instituting an
Informational Proceeding for the 2012 IEPR Update and 2013 IEPR was authorized by the CEC during the February 8,
2012 Business Meeting. The CEC last forecast CHP technical and market potential under various scenarios in 2009,
but none of those scenarios fully characterized the current economic and regulatory situations. Database
assumptions and economic drivers used in the previous CHP market potential work are being updated and will be
presented for discussion at this workshop. The University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) last year completed
a lengthy assessment of GHG benefits of CHP (# 500‐02‐004
MAQ‐07‐01) and released an Issue Paper; the workshop will discuss the findings and other new
information. The UC Irvine conducted the assessment under contract to the CEC Public Information Energy Research
(PIER) program. The CEC encourages stakeholders to be specific and recommend market and regulatory strategies
that will lead to the development of clean and efficient CHP in California to support the goal of 6,500 MW of
new CHP proposed in the Governor's Clean Energy Jobs Plan. The workshop will also be webcast, with participation
information provided on the Notice. 02/03/2012
UPM Plans Industry Scale Wood Pulp Waste to Biodiesel Biorefinery
 Finland's UPM has announced plans to invest about EUR 150 million in the development of
an industrial-scale biorefinery on the company's Kaukas mill site for conversion of mill wastes and forest
residues into its proprietary UPM BioVerno transport fuel. The company's main initial feedstock for this
facility will be raw "tall oil", a waste residue of chemical pulp production generated from pulping of softwood
for paper. Following hydrotreatment, the tall oil is refined into biodiesel using circulating bubbling fluidized
bed (BFB) gasification technology UPM has developed with Andritz Carbona. The resulting biofuel exceeds both EU and Finnish
standards and is expected to reduce emissions over standard diesel in heavy transport by as much as 80%, UPM
notes that the EU's renewable energy directive (RED) favors advanced biofuels, which are produced from
lignocellulose, waste and residue-based raw materials. According to the directive, these biofuels are double
counted when calculating the renewable target. Thus 5% of UPM's advanced biofuels would be regarded as 10% when
counting the share of biofuels in transport. The Lappeenranta biorefinery on the Kaukas mill site is only one of
UPM's current biorefinery developments, which include the potential for a plant at the Rauma paper mill in
Finland, and at the Stracel paper mill in Strasbourg, France, for which environmental assessments have already
been completed. UPM President and CEO Jussi Pesonen: "The biofuels business has excellent growth potential. The
quality of our end product and its environmental characteristics has gained significant interest among a wide
range of customers, and the investment is profitable. Lappeenranta is the first step on UPM’s way in becoming a
significant producer of advanced second generation biofuels. This is also a focal part in the realisation of our
Biofore strategy. Our biorefinery in Lappeenranta is the first significant investment in a new and innovative
production facility in Finland during the ongoing transformation of forest industry."
02/03/2012
UK's CPI Introduces New Platform for Development of Small-Scale AD Systems
 The United Kingdom's (UK) six-year-old Center for Process Innovation (CPI)
has announced a new collaborative project, the Small Scale Anaerobic
Digestion Technology (SSAD-TECH) platform,
to develop and prove efficacy of rural and small business scale anaerobic digestion modules. The two-year
effort is grant-funded through UK's Technology Strategy Board, with a budget of £880,000. The CPI already
has anaerobic digestion (AD) development facilities. The project brings in an industry consortium to meet what
the CPI has determined is an unmet market need for AD systems generating from 60 to 250 kilowatts electric
(kWe). The effort is aimed at safe and economical management of organics conversion to heat and power for small
business farms and food manufacturers, acknowledging the value of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and
regional waste disposal costs and impacts. The systems will be scaled to manage from 2500 to 5000 tonnes of
organics per year, and capital costs are expected to range with scale from £350-500,000. CPI Director of
Sustainable Processing and Advanced Manufacturing, Dr Chris Dowle, says: “CPI is delighted to be leading in this
project, which represents an excellent opportunity to drive the evolution of this key technology. Anaerobic
digestion will play an important role in achieving a low carbon future, and the SSAD-TECH project makes the
technology an achievable goal for smaller scale or rural businesses.” 02/03/2012
Due 03/29/2012: Pre-Proposals to ESTCP for Innovative Energy Demonstrations
 The Department of Defense's (DoD) Environmental Security Technology Certification
Program (ESTCP) has announced a request for proposals (RFP) for demonstration of
installation energy technologies. Solicitations have been issued for DoD, non-DoD federal, and non-federal
proposals. Six topics areas are included: (1) Smart Secure Integrated Installation Energy Management, (2) Cost
Effective On-Site Distributed Generation, (3) Advanced Component Technologies to Improve Building Energy
Efficiency, (4) Advanced Building Energy Management and Control, (5) Tools and Processes for Decision-making
Associated with Energy Use and Management, and (6) (for the DoD ONLY) Advanced Water Management and Controls for
DoD Buildings. ESTCP conducts its demonstration and validation program to collect
cost / performance data on innovative technology to help bridge early commercialization barriers resulting from
high technical or programmatic risk. Pre-proposals will allow early assessment against the DoD's criteria; those
submitting accepted pre-proposals will be encouraged to file full proposals at a later date.
Awards will be in the form of contracts. The program provides separate criteria for submissions by non-federal
companies, by non-DoD federal developers, and internal submissions from DoD personnel. The ESTCP Director will
conduct an on-line "how to play" briefing seminar, "ESTCP Installation Energy Funding Opportunities - FY 2013"
on February 16, 2012." The webinar is free but requires registration; details are provided on the
Webinar announcement. 02/03/2012
British Columbia Invests $700K in Waste Wood to Bioproducts Development
 British Columbia (B.C.), Canada's Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
has announced provision of $700,000 to the private non-profit forest
research institute FPInnovations to assess B.C.'s bio-economy status and available
options for expansion, and to identify economically viable access to wood fiber for new projects. As with much
of Canadian forest lands, B.C. continues to experience expansive damage from infestations of mountain pine
beetle, and seeks to aggressively turn damaged resources to regional benefit. The government's Bio-Economy
Committee publicly released its report on January 11, 2012 in conjunction with the 9th
Annual B.C. Natural Resource Forum in Prince George, which provided a "snapshot" of current regional and global
waste wood conversion activities, and formed recommendations for accelerated bio-economic development. The
funding augments an existing contract between B.C. and FPInnovations, and another $600,000 provided by Natural
Resources Canada under its Transformative Technologies Research Program. The new support will be
applied to (1) the development and application of low-carbon, energy efficient solutions for forest sector
trucking, (2) the assessment of the business case for new bioproducts at forest products facilities in BC
(extending the Bio-Pathways work initiated by the Forest Products Association of Canada), (3) overall
development of regional bio-economy, and (4) develop an Economic Biomass Inventory of targeted BC regions, to
establish volume-cost curves for utilization. Sheldon Johnson, the Ministry's project lead in charge of the
Government Communications and Public Engagement, notes: "A key aim of many of the measures within this
initiative is the cost-effective and productive use of what otherwise would be considered residual waste
streams. By turning mill residuals and available harvesting residuals into value-added products, there are
significant opportunities to improve sustainability socially, economically and environmentally." Questions on
the project may be directed to Mr. Johnson at, or 250 213-5811.
02/02/2012
Surrey's "ENERGYShift" Plan Includes Food Waste to Fleet Biofuel
 Mayor Watts of Surrey, the second largest city in British Columbia,
Canada, is leading a community dialogue today seeking public participation in finalization
of the City's new ENERGYShift plan to move toward localized, sustainable and efficient
energy programs. The draft plan integrates aspects of land use, transportation, green buildings, a revamped
energy infrastructure, and a broader solid waste program to reduce, reuse, recycle and recovery energy form the
municipal waste. The public-private collaboration is intended to produce a final consensus-based plan by winter
2012. In the run-up to this stage of planning, the City worked with the New York based non-profit organization
Energy Vision to assess opportunities and help organize the requisite outreach efforts. The study results
were announced with the release of a report entitled, The City of Surry: Setting the Pace for Sustainable Transportation,
and profiles how the City will roll out three integrated activities: (1) require its solid waste collection and
recycling contractors to use only natural gas powered vehicles (a bid won by BFI Canada), (2) Initiate
separation and collection of organics from the City's 470,000 residents and business, and (3) process the
organics in a new anaerobic digestion facility (due to be completed in 2014), with the methane-rich biogas to be
cleaned, compressed and used to fuel the waste services fleets. Developing the ENERGYShift final plan will
involve the completion of an energy and emissions baseline and 25 year projections to help us better understand
future energy demand and supply for key sectors. 02/02/2012
Primoris, Synergy Sign
Agreement for Two Puerto Rico Waste to Energy Projects
 Two Texas-based companies, Primoris Renewables and Synergy Renewables, have signed a cooperative agreement to develop two gasification waste
conversion projects in Puerto Rico. The companies will utilize Utah-based Dynamis Energy's proprietary
starved-air gasification technology, a modular and scalable system to cleanly
convert waste to combustible synthetic fuel gas (syngas). Primoris Renewables is a wholly owned subsidiary
of Primoris Services Corporation. Synergy Renewables and their strategic
partner Dynamis Energy have just formed the Sunbeam Synergy Puerto Rico LLC joint venturewith Sunbeam Energy
Holdings, Inc. of Falmouth, Massachusetts. Dynamis is concurrently pursuing development in the US, and last November signed
a 400-ton per day waste gasification agreement with Ada County of Utah. Each of facility will gasify about
180,000 tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) annually to generate 10MWs of clean renewable energy per location.
Synergy Renewables first sorts and removes recyclables from incoming MSW, then shreds and dried the residual.
Gasification creates a raw syngas, which then is cleaned and upgraded to whatever specifications are required by
the next-stage power generating equipment. The construction is scheduled to begin in 2012 with a commercial
operation target of Q4 2013, and should be worth around $40 million to Primoris for overall project engineering,
construction and procurement (EPC). 02/02/2012
Pellet Fuels Institute Takes 1st Step to Standards Roll-Out
 The Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI) and the American Lumber Standard
Committee (ALSC) have announced lab and auditor accreditation as the first step in
implementation of new industry-driven, third-party verified standards for densified biomass fuel in North
America. As a renewable biofuel, pellets are generally made from recycled wood waste and residuals. The PFI
notes that about 1 million businesses and residences use pellet fuels in the US alone, and that one ton of
pellets has the energy equivalent of 2.8 barrels of #2 fuel oil. The program recognizes three
quality levels for pellet fuels, Premium, Standard and Utility, with the intent that each fuel type can be
easily matched to the appropriate bioenergy application. The ALCS will serve as the accreditation body for the
new PFI standard; to date, ten auditors and two laboratories have been
accredited. Manufacturers interested in joining the program should contact one of the auditors (contact information provided on-line). The program was launched
November 28, 2011 and so far 28 companies representing 42 mills have pledged to participate in the voluntary
enrollment. The organizations expect it will take several more months before the program is fully implemented,
and for retailers and customers to see the new labeling on pellet fuel bags. According to PFI Executive Director,
Jennifer Hedrick, “With the support the industry has shown thus far, we’re expecting many fuel manufacturers to
enroll in this early stage of the program.” 02/01/2012
WTEC to
Provide Modular Waste Gasification System in Yukon Territory
Waste to Energy Canada announced success late last month in winning a competitive bid to
provide waste management services to the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation community of Old Crow in the Canadian
Territory of Yukon. The company will be providing two 40 ft customized shipping containers containing the
pre-tested modular oxidation gasification system in a "plug -and-play" configuration. The system will be
air-lifted to the remote village in April 2012 and will require very little site engineering prior to starting
up operations. According to WTEC's Rod Taylor, “We are a Canadian company, and our technology withstands the
harshest environments while still maintaining the highest standard of environmental performance, and the Old
Crow plant will certainly demonstrate this even further. There is a lot of technical language involved but what
really matters are the benefits for the communities we work with who adopt these systems ... WTEC builds a
variety of gasification systems capable of processing .05 to 500 tonnes of waste per day. These plants comply
with the most stringent emission standards in the world, reduce green house gases, substantially reduce landfill
while helping to increase the recycling of glass and metals as they are not destroyed during our gasification
process.” 02/01/2012
DOE Starts 2nd "America's Next Top Energy Innovator" Challenge
 US Department of Energy (DOE) Steven Chu has announced the second round of the "America's Next Top Energy
Innovator" program, part of the continuing implementation of the administration's Startup America Initiative. The program is designed to dramatically
reduce costs and simplify the process for private companies to acquire rights for $1,000 to commercialize
technologies developed in DOE's 17 national laboratories. `The second round kick-off coincided with the Obama
administration's press release issued on the one-year anniversary of the Startup
America program's initiation. As a result of the first round's online competition, thirty-six companies signed
option agreements with national laboratories. The competition has now narrowed down to a short list of start-up
companies and their respective lab-sourced technologies; DOE requests that the public review the surviving
competitors and vote for favorites via the Top Innovator program's web portal. Voting closes on the 20112 round
February 11, 2012. Competition for the new round starts February 1, 2012; about 15,000 unlicensed,
un-commercialized patents and patent applications held by the national labs will be available for $1,000 each to
program participants. Those interested can now explore the "Next Top Innovator" website. 02/01/2012
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