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President & CEO, Biomass Power Association		 3 Questions with
Bob Cleaves of Biomass Power Association
A recent summary of your extensive comments to the EPA begins by stressing the importance of a clear pathway for states to build biomass into their State Implementation Plans (SIPs) for the Clean Power Plan. Is there not a clear pathway there now or is it in jeopardy of being eliminated or altered?
No. There is an opportunity for a pathway. So EPA is essentially telling the states, “We think biomass is important. We think biomass can only be included if it is what EPA deems is ‘qualified ‘ and it’s up to you the states, to tell us how you define qualified biomass and how it fits within EPA’s definition.” EPA’s definition of qualified biomass is that it has to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Why is it so critical that states are allowed to decide upon the definition of “qualified biomass?” What is the risk if this is left to the EPA?
There are really two concerns there. One is that EPA isn’t really qualified in this area. Unlike other federal agencies like the USDA, EPA just has no expertise in forest derived fuels. And second, and this is really important, consistent with the whole tone of the Clean Power Plan which is to defer policy to the states, the last thing we want to see and the last thing EPA wants to do is have this top down approach where the agency defines what biomass is and force the states to devise a plan that fits inside of this “one size fits all” methodology. It really doesn’t. Biomass unique to Florida with bagasse or Louisiana with rice hulls is different than wood chips in Maine. It just is.

What must the EPA do to ensure that co-firing of biomass in coal assets, a technology being widely deployed in Europe, is not, as you say, frustrated?
You’re not going to get utilities to co-fire wood biomass unless the policies are clear. Utilities have enough to do to try to justify simply because of the price of natural gas these days and if there is any regulatory uncertainty, they are just not going to do it. It’s too complicated. Our whole point all along is keep this entire rulemaking really simple. That said, we are concerned that EPA is not going to make it simple.

General Session
Power Generator Perspectives On Clean, Renewable and Distributed Energy
Executive Roundtable: The International Biomass Conference & Expo’s Annual Conversation with Bioenergy Association Leaders

Moderator:
Tim Portz, Executive Editor, Biomass Magazine
Seth Ginther
Executive Director, U.S. Industrial Pellet Association
Dan Wilson
Board Chair, Biomass Thermal Energy Council
Bob Cleaves
President & CEO, Biomass Power Association
Patrick Serfass
Executive Director, American Biogas Council
Stephen Faehner
President & CEO, American Wood Fibers

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Biofuels Analyst, Platts		 3 Questions with
Jordan Godwin of Platts
You’re presentation title suggests 2016 is a pivotal year for the cellulosic ethanol. How is this year different from others?
While 2015 might have been the most historic year for cellulosic, given the widespread breakout year it had at multiple plants, 2016 will be massively important, given the pressure that low oil and gasoline prices have applied on biofuels across the board. Because of that pressure, it’s extremely important for cellulosic technology to stay on track and continue to innovate and make new gains.

What is a bigger deal for cellulosic producers this year, achieving consistent production or driving down the cost of production?
Now that production consistency has grown to a comfort level never seen prior to 2015, it’s time for the cellulosic producers to invest in efficiency and spreading the word about the benefits from their process. Consistency will continue to be key in this climate, but striving for competitiveness will become essential in the next two years.

In your mind, at the end of 2016 what will the industry have had to accomplish to call the year a success?
To call 2016 a success, cellulosic producers will have grown total production by more than 20% and reduced operating costs by more than 10%. If they can do that, they’ll be on the right path for success in the next five years.


Panel Preview
Bioenergy Market Snapshot 1:
Current and Future Opportunities for Bioenergy Deployments in the United States
This first of a two-session panel series dedicated to market updates will focus exclusively on emerging biomass-to-energy markets in the United States. Broad in scope, this panel offers attendee overviews of the biogas, biofuels and woody biomass markets and opinions on their likely trajectories. This panel is split between marketplace assessments that are regional in scope and presentations that are national in scope.


Moderator:
Tim Portz, Executive Editor, Biomass Magazine
Bryan Staley
Environmental Research & Education Foundation
State of Practice for Anaerobic Digestion of Municipal Solid Waste Organics in the U.S.
Robin Spinks
North Carolina’s Southeast Partnership
NC Southeast Biorenewable & Biotechnology Asset Inventory
Jordan Godwin
Platts
Cellulosic Ethanol in 2016: Make or Break?
Jordan Solomon
ECOSTRAT
Using Wood2Energy.org’s Revitalized GIS Platform to Assess Local, Regional and National Woody Biomass Demand Trends


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