PelletNews Biomass Magazine launched a new webinar series in late June with a session focused on the growing European demand for American wood pellets. Executive Editor Tim Portz kicked off the event with an overview of his visits to the Georgia Power facility in Waycross, Ga., the Port of Brunswick in southeast Georgia, Port A BETTER FUEL: Conversion to biomass fuel is underway at the Drax Power Station in Selby, U.K. of Hull in the U.K., Dave Tenny, CEO and president of the and the U.K.-based Drax Power Station. national Alliance of Forest Owners, spoke Seth Ginther, executive director of about the ability of U.S. forests to sequester the U.S. Industrial Pellet Association, carbon. “Our forests today are sequestering, showcased policy drivers and updates in on net, somewhere in the neighborhood of the European market. According to Gin800 million metric tons of CO2 every year,� ther, sustainable forestry practices in the U.S. and Canada, large quantities of natural Tenny said. That amount is roughly 12 percent of the U.S. total carbon emissions even, resources and a stable political climate after harvesting wood for building material, are three things that have made North energy use and paper production, he said. America a good source of biomass fuel.
20 BIOMASS MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2013
LOI could result in Florida export operation
PHOTO: TIM PORTZ
Webinar focuses on pellet export potential
The St. Joe Company has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Enova Energy Group that could lead to the development of a pellet export operation at the Port of Port St. Joe, Fla., approximately 100 miles southwest of Tallahassee. The LOI is contingent upon the Port of Port St. Joe receiving funding to complete maintenance dredging of the shipping channel, which is federally authorized to a maximum of 37 feet. According to The St. Joe Company, Enova Energy has expressed interest in transporting a minimum of 1 million metric tons of wood pellets per year, using the AN Railway to the Port of Port St. Joe. The company has also shown interest in using or developing port site facilities, provided that the port is capable of accepting vessels of adequate size for the shipment of its commercial wood pellets. The Port of Port St. Joe is well-positioned for bulk cargo shipments, offering access of rail, the U.S. Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and the state and U.S. highways.