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Enviva, E.ON Sign Multi-Year Biomass Supply Contract
Enviva LP, a leading manufacturer of processed biomass fuel in the United States and Europe, and E.ON, one of the world's largest investor-owned utilities, announced a multi-year 240,000 metric ton per year wood pellet supply agreement.
"Demand for clean, renewable resources like our sustainably produced wood pellets continues to grow as energy generators invest in alternatives to traditional fossil fuels," said John Keppler, chairman and CEO of Enviva.
Jan Groeneveld, manager biomass sourcing at E.ON., added, "Biomass is one of the lowest-cost renewable solutions available and is a key part of helping us ensure that the lights stay on at a price that is affordable while helping to protect the climate."
The contract begins in early 2013. Enviva will supply the wood pellets from its facilities in the Southeastern U.S., home to some of the world's most abundant and sustainably managed wood baskets. Currently, Enviva owns and operates a new 350,000 metric ton pellet plant in Ahoskie, N.C. and is developing a second facility in nearby Northampton County, N.C. The company has also announced plans to build a 454,000 metric ton wood pellet manufacturing facility in Courtland, Va., which could begin operations as early as the first half of 2013.
Virginia Makes Permanent Ban on Transporting Walnut Trees
Virginia has made permanent ban on transporting walnut trees and plant parts in certain areas of the state.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says the quarantine area includes Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico and Powhatan counties and the cities of Colonial Heights and Richmond.
Walnut trees cannot be moved out of the area, including logs, stumps, firewood, roots, branches, mulch and chips.
The state originally imposed the quarantine in July after Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) was detected in Chesterfield and Henrico counties. The quarantine was later expanded and is now permanent.
TCD is a disease that kills walnut trees, Juglans spp. The fungus Geosmithia morbida is introduced by the walnut twig beetle, Pityophthorus juglandis, causing small cankers under the bark of the tree. The beetle introduces the fungus while it tunnels beneath the bark. As more beetles attack the tree, the number of cankers increases until they coalesce to girdle twigs and branches, restricting movement of nutrients and eventually killing the tree. Neither the beetle nor the fungus is native to the eastern U.S. Thinning or dead branches will initially occur at the top of the tree which will die from the top down. Trees may be infested for many years before showing symptoms. There is currently no treatment for the disease.
Once established in an area, TCD has the potential to spread to uninfested areas, either through natural means or through the artificial movement of infested articles.
Click here for more information on Thousand Cankers Diseases in the Eastern United States.
