NOVEMBER 2010 | VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 11
INSIDE ¦
FEATURES 26 EQUIPMENT Gearing Up Anticipating increased demand for biomass harvesting and handling machinery in the U.S., equipment manufacturers are rising to the challenge. By Lisa Gibson
34 DENSIFICATION Packing Heat and Power Whether it's replacing coal in a commercial power plant or heating homes and businesses, interest in biomass briquettes has gone from a simmer to a rapid boil. By Anna Austin
40 INNOVATION Energy Tablets FEEDING THE FIRE: Biomass compressed into briquettes, cubes or logs can be used for industrial, commercial or residential heat and power production. Page 34
DEPARTMENTS 04 EDITOR’S NOTE
The tabletizer presses biomass material into a high-density tablet, creating a new option for biomass fuel procurers. By Lisa Gibson
46 SWITCHGRASS Studying Switchgrass If the Southern U.S. is going to live up to its biomass-rich reputation, potential growers need to learn how to establish and grow energy crops. By Anna Austin
Biomass Buzzing in the Southeast By Rona Johnson
05 ADVERTISER INDEX 06 INDUSTRY EVENTS 08 POWER PLATFORM Biomass Industry Goes to Washington By Bob Cleaves
10 THERMAL DYNAMICS Telling the Story of Biomass Thermal By Kyle Gibeault and Joseph Seymour
13 LEGAL PERSPECTIVE 5 Points to Consider Before Doing an Acquisition By Sean Kearny
CONTRIBUTIONS 52 REGULATION MACT for Biomass Boilers—Déjà Vu? The proposed Maximum Achievable Control Technology standard will require many biomass boiler operators to install expensive control technologies to comply. By Chad Darby and Danielle Lenzini
56 TECHNOLOGY Harvesting Forestry and Logging Waste Profitably Fecon Inc. engineers and forestry experts are modifying equipment to more efficiently harvest woody biomass, with an eye toward sustainability, forest fire reduction and wildlife habitat restoration. By John Heekin
14 BUSINESS BRIEFS 16 INDUSTRY NEWS 58 MARKETPLACE
NOVEMBER 2010 | BIOMASS POWER & THERMAL 3