Government Affairs Updates
Congress Votes to Recognize Carbon Neutrality of Biomass
In a momentous victory for the biomass industry, Congress this week voted to recognize the carbon benefits of energy from biomass. The language, part of a larger government funding deal, was originally included in last year's energy bill that cleared the Senate and narrowly missed passage by the House. PFI, under the leadership of its government affairs consultant Pat Rita, was instrumental in advocating for biomass carbon neutrality recognition alongside other biomass advocacy groups.
The biomass industry has been waiting many years for the acknowledgement by the federal government of biomass as a renewable energy source that reduces atmospheric carbon. To date, the Environmental Protection Agency has not been able to finalize a biogenic carbon framework after the agency convened the Scientific Advisory Board panel nearly seven years ago. In the absence of broader national policy to promote renewable energy or carbon reduction, this declaration is not likely to have an immediate impact on the industry - but the public recognition of the carbon benefits of biomass is an important step.
The biomass carbon neutrality language calls on the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Energy and the EPA Administrator to work together to "establish clear and simple policies for the use of forest biomass as an energy solution including policies that reflect the carbon-neutrality of forest bioenergy and recognize biomass as a renewable energy source." PFI will continue to take part in that process.
Senator Wyden Introduces Technology-Neutral Renewable Enerfy Tax Reform
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, reintroduced legislation yesterday that embodies his "technology neutral" tax incentive approach to incentivizing renewable energy.
Previous iterations of this proposal completely omitted thermal energy, despite the fact that thermal represents a third of our nation's energy portfolio. The proposal introduced yesterday, titled the Clean Energy for America Act, maintains its dual platforms of focusing on electricity and transportation fuels, but we did make progress. After numerous meetings with his Finance Committee team, the updated version of the bill does recognize thermal energy generated as part of a combined heat and power (CHP) system. Language in the bill regarding conversion of BTUs to kilowatt hours is a direct result of our meetings. We view this as a step in the right direction. The bill does not incentivize straight thermal systems, as committee staff had difficulty with issues around measuring thermal output in strict thermal only systems. We will continue to work with the Wyden team on this issue.
The bill is a messaging proposal at this point, as only Democrats are cosponsors. However, as we move into serious discussions about reforming the tax code, energy tax incentives will be a piece of that discussion and there is bipartisan support for refining incentives so that they do not pick winners and losers. That is a concept PFI supports and, again, we will be actively involved in the process and dialogue on this critical issue on Capitol Hill.
EIA Releases Pellet Fuels Data for January 2017
This week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration released its latest Monthly Densified Biomass Fuel Report for the month of January 2017. After a strong end to 2016, with domestic pellet sales well over 200,000 tons for each of the months of October, November and December, January 2017 sales dipped slightly to 180,000. Production was up from 117,000 tons of domestic heating pellets in December to 137,000 tons in January. Employment held steady at just over 2,000 employees nationwide at facilities that qualify for the EIA study.
To view the latest densified pellet fuels data, please visit the EIA website.
Register for the 2017 PFI Annual Conference in Stowe, Vermont!
We are pleased to announce that registration is open for the 2017 PFI Annual Conference! We hope you will join us in Stowe, Vermont, to network with friends and peers from the pellet fuels industry and learn about all the current market trends.
Don't forget to book your hotel room with the Stowe Mountain Lodge! PFI has negotiated a conference rate with The Stowe Mountain Lodge for $259.00 (single/double). Contact the hotel directly to make your reservation at 888-478-6938 or online.
Stowe has been a destination for world travelers for well over a century. The alpine style of the lodge reflects the beauty of the green mountains and rolling hills. Having opened in June 2008, Stowe Mountain Lodge sets a new standard of luxury and aesthetics for the East Coast's most magnificent resort.
In conjunction with a dynamic conference program, you can visit some of the nearby sites like the Alchemist Brewery and some of the best shopping and dining Vermont has to offer. Combined with some of the area outdoor activities such as zip lining, biking, the PFI conference is a must-attend event. Take a look at all the great things Stowe has to offer.
We hope to see you this summer in Vermont! Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
Waste-to-Wisdom Holding Public Workshop on May 17 in Sacramento, CA
Waste-to-Wisdom will be holding a one-day public workshop in Sacramento, California, on May 17, to talk about the advances being made in studying the conversion of forest residues for energy. Humboldt State University and its 15 regional partners - which include PFI, Lignetics and the U.S. Forest Service - will discuss new technologies and discoveries that will make wood-to-energy increasingly efficient and diversified.
During the one-day public workshop you will have an opportunity to:
- See innovative methods and tools used to convert forest residues into high quality biomass feedstock to specifications required by different biomass conversion technologies.
- Learn how we developed a model to optimize the selection of production pathways including collection, comminution, product upgrading (moisture control, densification, and in-woods biomass conversion), and transportation to maximize net revenue.
- Hear how we scaled-up the most promising prototype units for three biomass conversion technologies - biochar production system, torrefier, and briquetter - to sizes appropriate for achieving commercialization.
- Understand how we evaluated the economic feasibility, social impacts, and ecological sustainability of implementing the proposed conversion technologies in addition to a cradle-to-grave life cycle inventory for each of the individual systems.
- Participate in topic-based breakout discussions.
Please visit the Waste-to-Wisdom website for the full agenda and registration.
Waste to Wisdom is an innovative biomass research project led by Humboldt State University and 15 regional partners, who are building on existing research on the conversion of forest residues into renewable energy and other valuable bio-based products. Our goal is to make better use of forest residues wasted from timber harvests and thinning by using new equipment, operations, and technologies that can turn that biomass into valuable bioenergy and bio-based products.
2017 PFI Sponsorship & Advertising Opportunities
PFI invites you to become a 2017 sponsor! This year, we have developed a new, streamlined sponsorship program that will create multiple opportunities for your company in 2017. Your company will have great visibility at PFI events, on the PFI website, and in the PFI newsletter, amongst other benefits.
The 2017 Sponsorship packages include benefits such as:
- PFI Annual Conference registrations
- Breakfast & Biomass registrations
- Company logo listed on the PFI website
- 10x10 booth at the PFI Annual Conference
- Weekly newsletter advertising
- Website advertising
- And more!
PFI's membership includes over 100 member companies, and our electronic newsletter is sent to over 3,500 people every week. Now is the time to become a sponsor of this organization. Visit our website to explore how you can become involved.
Follow and Connect With Us on Social Media!
We urge all PFI members to engage with us on social media. By joining PFI in being visible and active on social media, we can make our voices heard more loudly and by many more audiences.
Follow us on Twitter: @PelletFuel
Friend us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pfipellets
Link with us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/pellet-fuels-institute
Have News to Share on Pellet Wire?
We'd love to feature your company's news in a future Pellet Wire! We want to be the first to know your company's recent developments to share them with the wider pellet fuels industry.
Please be in touch with Carrie Annand at [email protected] with information on your company's growth, job openings, promotions or other news.
Join a PFI Committee
We welcome and encourage all interested PFI members to get involved in our committees. There are many opportunities to help steer the association. No matter where your expertise and interests lie, we have a committee that will suit you. Help us plan our next conference, shape our policy agenda, lead communications outreach or grow the PFI Standards Program. Visit PFI's website for more information.
Upcoming Industry Events
July 23-25, 2017: PFI Annual Conference
