pfI reAChes mou wIth usDA, INDustrY groups The Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI) recently joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and three additional biomass groups in signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signifying a commitment by the federal government and industry to jointly grow and promote the wood-to-energy sector. The MOU recognizes the shared goals and interests amongst the signers in expanding the use of wood to energy: creating local jobs, increasing affordable heating and electricity options for rural Americans, improving forest health, reducing wildfire risks, and promoting efficient biomass technologies across residential, commercial and industrial segments of the wood energy arena. The Biomass Thermal Energy Council, the Biomass Power Association and the Alliance for Green Heat are also involved in the new agreement. eNerkem, greeNfIelD to buIlD CellulosIC ethANol fACIlItY Enerkem and GreenField together will build and operate a cellulosic ethanol facility integrated with GreenField’s existing ethanol plant in Varennes, Que. The VANERCO project will receive financial support from the Canadian government through the Sustainable Development Technology Canada NextGen Biofuels Fund. Through the fund, $734,500 will support the initial development of the facility as a repayable contribution, an amount that could go up to $39.8 million. The non-recyclable waste to be used at the VANERCO facility will come from institutional, commercial and industrial sectors, and from construction and demolition debris. Construction of the facility, which will use Enerkem’s proprietary waste-to-biofuels technology, is planned to begin in 2014. The plant is expected to produce 38 million litres of cellulosic ethanol annually at full production. CoNIfex restArts bIoeNergY proJeCt Conifex Timber Inc. recently announced it has received $100 million in project financing that will allow the company to restart its planned 36-megawatt bioenergy power project in Mackenzie, B.C. Conifex expects to receive formal commitment for the project financing shortly. Conifex estimates that the bioenergy project, using a 36-megawatt steam turbine, will be able to produce 230 gigawatt hours of energy each year and generate annual revenues of approximately $25 million annually. For expanded industry news and daily updates, visit www.canadianbiomassmagazine.ca Processing Systems for Bioenergy Liberating Untapped Energy A worldwide leader in size reduction technology for bioenergy, Vecoplan works with individual customers to design, engineer, manufacture and implement technologically advanced, material specific, and application specific shredding, ferrous and non-ferrous removal, size and density separation, screening and classification technologies and extremely efficient conveyor and bulk material handling, metering, storage and unloading technologies. Contact Vecoplan today to learn more about our existing systems or to arrange a visit to one, or several, of our installations. Phone: (336) 252-4774 vecoplanllc.com Canadian BIOMASS 7
Canadian Biomass September/October 2013: Page 7
