Forest energy

Yeast makes it possible to extract up to 40 percent more ethanol than before from cellulose-based raw materials from agriculture and forestry. After years of tests in laboratories ethanol company Sekab can prove that the new yeast works on a large scale reports the Swedish Science Radio.

LA PINE, OR -- The state Department of Environmental Quality will hold a public hearing Tuesday evening to review a permit for a proposed biomass plant planned for the La Pine area. The plant, which Biogreen wants to build on Reed Rd., would generate electricity by burning wood materials from forest management activities. The plant is expected to generate about 24 MW of electricity. The DEQ air quality permit would limit the amount of air pollution the plant would be allowed to produce.

The Maine Department of Conservation says eight wood-to-energy conversion projects are receiving more than $5.55 million in federal stimulus funding.

Essen, Germany - RWE Innogy Italia will build the first biomass cogeneration plant in Sicily. The biomass cogeneration plant has a capacity of 18.7 megawatts and is designed for a power generation output of 128000 megawatt-hours. The investment volume amounts to EUR61 million.

Biofuels targets in the European Union could raise emissions of greenhouse gases because forests and wetlands will be destroyed to grow the crops necessary, nine environmental groups said in a