West Salem, WI (WXOW) – More than 50 businesses and organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada have come together to participate in the 5th Annual National Bioenergy Day.

American Home Fireplace & Patio in West Salem was one of those businesses opening its doors to the community to demonstrate the benefits bioenergy provides on a local level.  Bioenergy refers to the generation of electricity and heat from wood and other organic materials that provides a sustainable, renewable, and carbon-friendly energy source.

The Xcel Energy plant out on French Island provides a unique service to La Crosse county.

“We’ve got a plant out on French iIland that burns three types of fuel.  It burns the refuse dry fuel from our garbage, it burns wood waste from sawmills and different places, and it also burns wood but it burns railroad ties, shredded up railroad ties, which is a real good way to recycle those railroad ties and make energy out of them,” says Mike Herro, Community Service Manager for Xcel Energy.

In addition to providing a domestic energy source, bioenergy industries work together to keep American forests healthy and put organic byproducts, industry byproducts, and agricultural residuals to good use.

Source: http://www.wxow.com/story/36629290/2017/10/Wednesday/local-business-participates-the-5th-annual-national-bioenergy-day

BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Mt. Poso Cogeneration Company, Macpherson Energy, DTE Energy and the CSUB California Energy Research Center hosted a ceremony and presentation recognizing October 18^th, 2017 as National Bio Energy Day in Kern County.  Students from CSUB and Community leaders were in attendance to learn about the benefits that Biomass facilities provide to the community.

The event was in recognition of the fifth annual National Bioenergy Day, an effort by renewable energy producers across the nation to educate the public about the environmental, economic and community benefits that biomass provides as an energy source. In honor of the event, the County of Kern and the City of Bakersfield both issued recognitions declaring October 18, 2017 as Bioenergy Day in their respective jurisdictions.

“Biomass is an important renewable energy source for our local community,” said Doug Christian, the Manager of Environmental Health and Safety at Mt. Poso. “It keeps wood waste out of landfills and has created new markets for local agricultural wood waste.”

The Mt. Poso plant was completely converted to run 100 percent woody biomass fuel, instead of coal, and is delivering 44 megawatts of clean, renewable energy to the California grid. It produces clean, low-emissions power exclusively from woody biomass fuel. The wood used to fuel the power plant comes from landfill diversion construction waste and agricultural sources.

“What an experience for the students to learn about the benefits of bioenergy,” commented Alan Fuchs Director of the CSUB California Energy Research Center.  “Biomass is a great renewable option. Mt. Poso’s plant provides power to approximately 30,000 homes and provides over 140 employment opportunities for residents.  These are viable energy related jobs that can benefit CSUB students.”

“Mt. Poso is a great example of renewable energy and the oil industry working hand in hand to meet California’s energy needs,” said Emelie Macpherson Smith, Land & Legal Analyst of Macpherson Energy Corporation. “There are real environmental benefits to operating the power plant and oil field together as a single unit. By recycling oilfield-produced water at Mt. Poso, we are preserving California’s groundwater.  Furthermore, Biomass plants reduce the amount of open burning by the agriculture industry providing substantial benefits to our air basin.”
(photos of event below)

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For more information, members of the media may contact:

Russell Johnson (Representing Mt. Poso), (661) 203-1838

In honor of the Fifth Annual Bioenergy Day, 60 organizations across the United States and Canada are participating in events Oct. 18 to recognize the economic and environmental benefits of using organic materials (also known as biomass) to produce heat, power and fuels. Today, during National Forest Products Week, private businesses, state governments and universities are inviting local residents and stakeholders to learn more about bioenergy and how it contributes locally to forest health and economic productivity.

“Restoring healthy, resilient forests depends on strong forest products markets that include wood energy,” said U. S. Forest Service Chief Tony Tooke. “Thinning overcrowded forests, removing dead trees and using these fuels, as well as small, woody materials that burn easily, helps reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and fosters healthier forests.”

Most bioenergy is made from organic materials that are byproducts from other industries and have no other use. Bioenergy plays a key role in forest health by providing a market for dead fibers that are cleared from forests to reduce the likelihood of catastrophic fires. By valuing materials that might otherwise go to waste, bioenergy often contributes to the economic well-being of farmers, foresters and landowners.

“On Bioenergy Day, I’d like to encourage all Americans and Canadians to heat locally,” said Stan Elliot, chairman of the Pellet Fuels Institute board of directors. “Our members make pellets from materials available in their nearby communities. While fossil fuel heating usually involves importing fuel from elsewhere, wood pellets are often made near the stores where they are sold. Heating with pellet fuels is a great way to save money and support your local forest products industry. ”

“From a festival in Tennessee, to a facility opening in Nebraska, to a public meeting in Alaska, people all over the country today are talking about bioenergy today, the Fifth Annual Bioenergy Day,” said Bob Cleaves, president of Biomass Power Association. “In the short time we’ve been organizing this event, it has tripled in size and introduced thousands of Americans to bioenergy and its benefits. By putting to use otherwise useless or low value materials, we are all better off. Our forests are healthier, our communities have more jobs, and we provide a solution for the disposal of waste materials.”

“Firewood continues to be an essential energy and heating source in suburban and rural communities across North America,” said Jack Goldman, president and CEO of the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association. “HPBA members across Canada and the United States know the importance of bioenergy from wood heaters and their role in providing energy security and heating households.”

Each year, the U.S. Forest Service and Biomass Power Association collaborate on a video to highlight the role of bioenergy in a local economy. This year’s video featured Northwest Montana, showcasing the many ways that businesses and schools in the area use bioenergy to save money and utilize byproducts.

National Bioenergy Day sponsors include Biomass Power Association, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, Pellet Fuels Institute, U.S. Industrial Pellet Association, Hearth Patio and Barbecue Association, Biomass Thermal Energy Council and Biomass Magazine. To learn more, please visit www.bioenergyday.org.

For updates on National Bioenergy Day and news on biomass, follow @USABiomass on Twitter, or search for the hashtag #bioenergyday.

Oat hulls from @cheerios & malt byproducts are combusted to create Koda Energy’s clean bioenergy, thanks to @USAbiomass on #bioenergyday
(via Twitter – photos below)

“The Ketchikan Federal Building uses a biomass boiler fueled by waste generated by the timber industry. #BioenergyDay #Tongass”
(via Twitter – photo below)

Today is Bioenergy Day, and Aries Clean Energy is a Registered Participant!

Aries Clean Energy has joined the ranks of companies and organizations across the country to show support of U.S. bioenergy. Bioenergy is the use of any organic material, such as forest thinnings, residues, agricultural waste or urban wood waste, to generate heating, cooling and/or electricity.

Bioenergy is a domestic energy source, sustains tens of thousands of jobs, keeps American forests healthy and puts organic byproducts to good use.

“Cleaning up our #Biodiesel @NAITAltEnergy for #BioenergyDay. #NAIT”
(via Twitter – photo below)

“Brewing up a batch of #bioethanol for #BioenergyDay @NAITAltEnergy #NAIT”
(via Twitter – photo below)

FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine – In honor of the fifth Annual National Bioenergy Day, ReEnergy Holdings LLC held an Open House at its Fort Fairfield facility. At the event, ReEnergy Chief Executive Officer Larry D. Richardson made a formal announcement that ReEnergy was partnering with Biobased Maine to request proposals from companies wishing to co-locate at one or more of ReEnergy’s four biomass-to-electricity facilities in Maine.

ReEnergy owns and operates four utility-scale renewable energy generating facilities in Maine (a 39-megawatt biomass facility in Ashland; a 39-megawatt biomass facility in Livermore Falls; a 37-megawatt biomass facility in Fort Fairfield; and a 48-megawatt biomass facility in Stratton.) These facilities use locally sourced, sustainably harvested, forest-derived woody biomass as fuel, in addition to woody biomass that is residue from mill operations.

Each ReEnergy facility is capable of operating as part of a Combined Heat and Power platform: Each is adjacent to undeveloped land that is available for lease or sale, and companies locating on those parcels could make use of affordable electricity and/or steam generated by ReEnergy’s facility.

ReEnergy’s biomass power plants are capable of delivering cost-effective thermal energy (steam, hot water), electricity and CO2 to an industry or industries located on adjacent property. Energy costs for an entity locating at this site will be more competitive than market-rate energy, since
electricity and steam supply from ReEnergy’s facilities should result in avoided capital and maintenance costs, avoided electrical transmission and distribution costs, and the ability to enter into a long-term agreement to hedge market price risk.

“Since we became a Maine corporate citizen in 2011, we have deployed more than $500 million in capital and operating expenses in our Maine assets, and we wish to increase that commitment. We believe our biomass-to-electricity facilities represent critical economic development tools,” said Richardson. “Many logging companies and mills count on our facilities for their continued viability, and we firmly believe that our biomass assets represent a critical economic development tool, as each of our power facilities is located adjacent to at least one large tract of undeveloped land and each could provide affordable electricity, thermal energy and other infrastructure support to a co-located industry. We appreciate the policy support that our sector has received from the State of Maine, and we are working to ensure that our facilities can be a catalyst for the development of new complementary industries. We are engaged in aggressive efforts to ensure long-term viability of our assets in Maine.”

Charlotte Mace, executive director of Biobased Maine, said: “We’re excited for this partnership with ReEnergy, which can lead to more good jobs for rural Maine. Maine’s forest industry is still strong, viable, and well-positioned to seek partnerships with emerging technologies. The time is right to use Maine wood that currently lacks markets to manufacture next-generation products the world is demanding.”

The RFP can be found at www.biobasedmaine.org and www.reenergyholdings.com. Proposals are due by Nov. 30, and ReEnergy hopes to select partner companies by year-end.

Read the full article at http://www.wagmtv.com/content/news/ReEnergy-Celebrates-National-Bioenergy-Day-in-Fort-Fairfield-Announces-Request-for-Proposals-451477723.html

“Students are having fun learning about bioenergy and bioderived products at #BioenergyDay — ’til  5pm today at UT Arboretum” (via Twitter – photos below)