Forest2Market News for the Global Bioenergy & Biomaterials Sectors
Wood Chips and Conveyor
Biomass Plants in the Northeast Scramble to Change Business Model

By Eric Kingsley
In the Northeast, biomass electricity plants are staring at some tough economics. For many standalone wood-fired electricity plants, the cost of fuel (wood chips) and operations exceed what they get paid for the electricity they generate. With natural gas (and thus wholesale electricity) prices expected to remain low—and state-level support for biomass fading—biomass plants are working hard to figure out how to continue operating.

European Biomass Association Publishes 2017 Statistical Report

By John Greene
The European Biomass Association (AEBIOM) recently released its 2017 Statistical Report, which provides an in-depth analysis of the bioenergy sector in the EU28 (European Union) Member States. Each year, AEBIOM is able to produce an increasingly robust report that includes new facts, figures and information, as well as unique data focused on the developments of the European bioenergy market from a growing number of international contributors.

Pete Stewart Presents at 2017 USIPA Conference

By John Greene
Forest2Market’s President and CEO Pete Stewart recently presented at the U.S. Industrial Pellet Association’s (USIPA) Exporting Pellets Conference in Las Vegas, NV. Content and material centered around the key theme of this year’s conference: “A Global Discussion on Sustainable Growth, Diversification and Expansion of the Wood Pellet Export Market.”

Biofuels Sector Struggles amid Nebulous RFS, Plant Closures

By John Greene
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently sent its final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume obligations to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, which is the next step in finalizing the 2018 renewable volumes. By law, EPA must finalize the 2018 volumes by November 30. .


EPA One Step Closer to Repealing Clean Power Plan

By John Greene
As we noted earlier this year, president Trump made early plans in his administration to scrap former president Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan (CPP), his signature strategy for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions from the nation’s power plants. President Trump issued his “Energy Independence” executive order in March, which prompted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt to implement an investigatory period before establishing a rulemaking process and public comment period, which are the first steps to rescinding the Plan.
 
New Study: Biomass Electricity in the US Facing Headwinds

By John Greene
While the New Hampshire legislature recently modified the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to aid its forest products industry, a long-term solution for biomass power generation on a national scale is unlikely. The NH law will impact the market for three years in 2017, 2018 and 2019, which will secure a home for over 3 million tons of low-grade wood—both pulpwood and biomass—but what will happen to this state’s biomass market beyond 2020 is anyone’s guess. On a broader scale, is biomass a feasible feedstock for existing electricity providers across the US?

Wood Pellets