Biofuels Digest Special Update on Biomass and Algae: Report on Pacific West Biomass Conference
by Ernest Lowe (Biofuels Digest) …several speakers in the morning’s plenary sessions invoked major statuatory and regulatory barriers to fulfilling this promise. There are conflicting definitions of biomass and what qualifies as a legitimate source or conversion process. The conflicts run across the standards for earning carbon credits and renewable energy credits, attaining the Renewables Portfolio Standard (for utilities), meeting AB32 carbon reduction goals, and meeting California Integrated Waste Management Board landfill diversion goals. These issues reach beyond California since the State’s standards strongly affect those of many other States. … Green-e, the favored third party certifier for both RECs and carbon credits, denies greenhouse gas reduction credits to energy from solid and liquid biomass from nearly all sources.
…Reliable access to biomass feedstocks was a recurring theme. …One of the most innovative approaches to feedstocks was Dallas Hank’s baseline assessment of idle public lands, such as freeway frontage, railroad and airport land, and military bases.
…In the Biorefinery track algae companies had strong representation. …One manager responded to the question “When do you think your company will be producing cost competitive biodeisel.” “I hope its within my lifetime,” was his modest response. READ MORE
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- Pacific West Biomass Conference & Expo January 11-13 Sacramento, CA
- Biofuels Digest Publishes Special Algae Biofuels Report
- “Torrefied Wood, A Bio-Energy Option That Is Ready to Go”: A Biomass Digest Special Report
- “Drama Building for Biofuels in California”: a Biofuels Digest Special Report
- Indian States Fast-Track Jatropha 2.0, a Special Biofuels Digest Report
