• Biomass Thermal Energy Council Update
• Take us for a Test Drive: 50% off 2010 Membership Dues
• Legislative Update
• Activities for BTEC Members
• Biomass News
• Member News
• BTEC Press Releases
• Event and Conference Announcements
   

Greetings,

Welcome to the August Newsletter of the Biomass Thermal Energy Council. We have a number of important news items for you this month.

Join BTEC at 50% Off: New Trial Membership for 2010: In the current economic climate, companies need to find new competitive advantages. We’re confident BTEC can help your business. That’s why we’re offering 50% off on 2010 membership dues for organizations that join by September 15, 2010. Take us for a test drive through the end of the year! See the next article for more details.

Government Affairs: July was an especially busy month for BTEC government affairs, as legislative and regulatory activities took center stage in Washington, DC. Highlights include the introduction of the Thermal Renewable Energy Efficiency Act (TREEA), BTEC’s comment submissions on the EPA Boiler MACT rule and Solid Waste Definition. See the section "Legislative Overview" for more details.

We recently introduced a monthly policy update call open only to BTEC members. Our first call featured Trent Bauserman, Energy Policy Advisor to U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen. This new feature, when combined with our weekly legislative updates, provides our members with the latest in policy and regulatory developments that affect their business. 

BTEC Working Groups + Projects: Several member-led working groups are tackling issues important to the industry. One of the most active groups is focused on developing public comments to EPA’s recently proposed boiler emission standards. Other groups are working on biomass fuel and appliance standards and a market study for the biomass thermal industry. See more info in the section below.

If you are in the business of using biomass for heating, cooling, or CHP, you will benefit from membership in BTEC. For reasons why, visit our website at www.biomassthermal.org/membership to or contact us to discuss how to get involved.

If you have any comments, questions, or feedback, feel free to email me or give me a call. Thanks for reading!

Emanuel Wagner
BTEC Program Associate
202-596-3974 x360

In the current economic climate, companies need to find new competitive advantages. We’re confident BTEC can help your business. That’s why we’re offering 50% off on 2010 membership dues for organizations that join by September 15, 2010. Take us for a test drive through the end of the year!

Membership in BTEC is a must for those in the business of using biomass for heating, cooling, or CHP (Combined Heat and Power). Landowners, fuel producers, equipment manufacturers, project developers—all have a place in BTEC.

Act soon—this offer ends September 15!

Click here >> for information on member benefits.

Need More Information? Contact Emanuel Wagner at 202-596-3974 x 360 or emanuel.wagner@biomassthermal.org.

When they were announced in June, EPA's proposed rules for Major and Area Source Boilers, Incinerators, and Non-Hazardous Solid Waste caused concern among those in the biomass thermal sector. In response to these rules and their likely negative impact, BTEC solicited technical input from its membership and recommended rule revisions to EPA. BTEC's comments on both the Area Source and Non-Hazardous Solid Waste rule emphasize common sense guidelines that increase the use of clean burning, affordable, high efficiency biomass thermal combustion equipment and diverse feedstocks, while promoting environmental goals of decreased fossil fuel use and cleaner air.

The deadline for comment on the Solid Waste rule has passed, but members (and non-members, too) are encouraged to comment on the Area Source rule before its deadline of August 23, 2010. For information on how to submit your own comment, read the regulations, and access BTEC's comments, visit http://www.biomassthermal.org/legislative/mact.asp.

Biomass thermal technologies experienced a promising legislative boost during July. The Thermal Renewable Energy and Efficiency Act (TREEA) was introduced simultaneously in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. TREEA would create a package of financial incentives to support implementation of large scale efficient, renewably-fueled heating and cooling systems. These provisions include improved bonding options for district heating infrastructure, increased project grant funding, and expanding the Production Tax Credit (PTC) to include renewable heating and cooling (Btu to kWh equivalent). Also, Rep. Hodes of New Hampshire unveiled the House-companion bill (H.R. 5918) to the Senate's proposed investment tax credit for commercial and residential biomass thermal systems (S. 3188). The House bill would establish a 30% investment tax credit for residential and commercial biomass thermal systems which operate at output efficiencies of 75% or more.

Call your legislator and encourage them to support biomass thermal bills. As a member, you will have access to the text of the bills as well as factsheets. To learn more about joining BTEC (and doing so at half price), go to http://www.biomassthermal.org/membership

BTEC Membership is not limited to weekly policy updates, biweekly newsletters, conference calls or fact sheets. All members may participate in the many other activities that BTEC has to offer. 

Policy:

• EPA Boiler MACT Rules - This BTEC Working Group has drafted comments to EPA on its Proposed Area Source Boiler Rule. You can read more about this effort here >>. Many thanks to the group for their commitment.
• EPA's Carbon Neutrality Ruling - BTEC is considering forming a Working Group to address  EPA's request for comments to its rules on the carbon neutrality of biomass.

Education & Outreach:

• WERC Grant Projects - BTEC has received a grant from the Forest Service's Wood Education Resource Center to conduct education and outreach activities like the preparation of fact sheets on issues in the biomass thermal industry, webinars, interviews and so forth. BTEC staff is in the inital stages of planning the activities. We invite you to help to shape or review content or volunteer as an interview partner. 

Research & Analysis:

• Biomass Thermal Market Study - BTEC is preparing a proposal to government agencies and institutions to request funding for a market study of the biomass thermal energy industry. The study will be the first of its kind, providing much needed economic data on the industry.
• Vision 2025 - The study "Heating the Northeast with Renewable Biomass - A Bold Vision For 2025" has garnered considerable media attention, and BTEC is continuing to develop the study further.

If you want to get involved with these activities, send an email to emanuel.wagner@biomassthermal.org or call 202-596-3974 x360.

This section features noteworthy biomass news. Visit http://www.biomassthermal.org/news/biomassNews.asp for all the latest biomass news.

World

Study: Reforestation projects capture more carbon than industrial plantations
Research challenges traditional views on the efficiency of industrial monoculture plantations. Read more >>

Fossil Fuel Subsidies Outpace Renewables
Governments worldwide spent $43-46 billion in 2009 to subsidize renewable energy, compared to $557 billion spent on subsidizing fossil fuels in 2008.  Read more >>

North America

Incentivizing Renewable Energy in the US Northeast
Recognizes need to adapt ambitious and smart renewable energy policies, varying from state to state. Read more >>

Genera breaks ground on Biomass Innovation Park
Tennessee’s Biomass Innovation Park integrates and optimizes the entire biomass supply chain. Read more >>

Satellite Map Depicts Average Height of Forests
Map will help scientists estimate of how much carbon the world’s forests store. Read more >>

Biomass or Fossil Fuels: The Choice is Obvious
25x'25 making the case for biomass. Read more >>

Nation Turns to ND For Biomass Insight This Week
Biomass '10 workshop will take place in Grand Forks, ND, July 20-21. Read more >>

Seeing the Forest for Its Hedges
NYT article on investing in timberland. Read more >>

Some Questions About Burning Wood
Raises important questions for communities to consider. Read more >>

Q. and A.: Woody Biomass, Pros and Cons
NYT interview with Tom Walker, team leader of the Manomet Study. Read more >>

360+ Organizations Release Statement on Senate Inaction on Energy Bill
Senate's decision to drop the RES and Cap and Trade portion of the latest energy bill draws criticism. Read more >>

Europe

European Pellets Council Founded
National pellet associations from 10 European countries have banded together to create a common platform to address industry issues at the EU level. The European Pellet Council (EPC), organized by the European Biomass Association (Aebiom), comprises national pellet associations from Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Read more >>

European Energy Firms Look To U.S. As Biomass Source
Demand from EU may spur investment in U.S. Read more >>

UN-Backed Workshop Addresses Wood Energy in the CIS and Turkey
Explores policy options for wood energy in countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Read more >>

BTEC members' activities are featured items in BTEC communications and provide a snapshot of current developments in the biomass thermal industry. 

Member News:

Abundant Power Wins Charleston Contract
Will administer the $400,000 program. Read more >>

ACT Bioenergy Wins $50,000 Grant
Awarded by Commercialization Assistance Program. Read more >>

Central Garden & Pet Begins $110M Buyback of Shares
Recently completed $100M buyback. Read more >>

Clean Power Development LLC and Gestamp Sign Cooperation Agreement for Projects Across Northeast
First Project will be 29-Megawatt biomass facility in Berlin, NH. Read more >>

Ernst Biomass Received $225,000 Grant
Grant will further the construction and operation of a biomass densification facility dedicated to the production of switchgrass solid biomass fuel. Read more >>

International Renewable Energy Technology Institute Hosts Mark Entenza
Gubernatorial candidate learns about biomass laboratory. Read more >>

International WoodFuels Sets Construction of Burnham Plant For Next Year
Takes account for lower demand. Read more here >> and here >>

New England Wood Pellet Plant Set to be Second Stop on Conference Tour
Will welcome attendees of the Northeast Biomass Conference. Read more >>

SUNY-ESF Takes Over Newcomb Visitor Interpretive Center
Park Agency transferred ownership to SUNY-ESF on July 1st. Read more >>

Turboden Engaged in Canada
New biomass projects in Canada worth $10M. Read more >>

Viessmann Invests in Poland
Will hire 100 new staff. Read more >>

BTEC issued two press statements on recent policy developments:

• Biomass Thermal Energy Council Commends Legislators for Introduction of Thermal Renewable Energy and Efficiency Act
• BTEC Submits Comments on Proposed EPA Area Source Boiler Rule