| 2010 | Highlights |
| February | Fluidized Bed Combustion Conference is May 24-26, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. |
| January | Stoker Owners' Survey went out in December: Stoker owners, there is still time to participate by emailing cmarriott@cibo.org for the link to the quick and easy nine question on-line survey. Focus Group topic for March 9-10 meeting: Practical Solutions for GHG Regulation Compliance in Tomorrow's Powerhouse. Company Profiles: ADA Environmental Solutions |
| 2009 | Highlights |
| December | Mark your Calendars for 2010 Conferences: Fluid Bed Combustion, May 24-26, 2010 and Industrial Emissions Control Technology, August 2-5, 2010. |
| October-November | New CIBO Membership Classification for Small Industrial Businesses A new membership classification (Small Entity Active Member) for small industrial businesses based on the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Small Business Classification System was approved at CIBO's Annual Meeting. This new member category provides small industrial owners full CIBO benefits in a time of mounting regulations (e.g. Area Source MACT, Boiler MACT, Green House Gas) impacting ALL industrial boilers burning ALL fuels. Company Profiles: Burns & McDonnell |
| September | Technical: The September Focus Group Alternative Fuels discussion forum was excellent. Carl Bozzuto, ALSTOM Power, Inc., and Ray Ganga, McBurney Corporation, talked about solid fuel, Monique Streff, Evergent Technologies, talked about liquid fuel from Biomass. Rachel Goldstein, US EPA provided an update on the Land Fill Gas Methane Program. And, Larry Moot, Kela Energy, gave a brief presentation on an engineered fuel derived from coal fines, recycled building materials and renewable biomass. The December Focus Group meeting will be on the subject of Emission Control Systems. We are looking forward to another very good session. Company Profiles: GRAYMONT |
| August | Technical: CIBO will be generating a survey for those people who have a stoker to collect basic information and provide a networking list to help educate new operators on problem solutions and combustion optimization. Different stoker manufacturers have different design philosophies that are not necessarily compatible, so talking with someone who has a similar stoker could be invaluable. Focus Group Topic for the September 15-16th meeting is "Alternative Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Bio/Renewable Energy Fuels for Existing Boilers." |
| July | Industrial Emissions Control Technology Conference: August 3-6, 2009 Company Profiles: Stanley Consultants, Inc. |
| June | Environment: The June Committee Meetings included two information presentations on Energy Efficiency in boiler operations and are posted in Members Only Company Profiles: Global Corporate Consultancy: An Oranjewoud N.V. Business Group |
| April/May | Environment: The June Committee Meetings will include: Focus Group on "Improving Energy by Integrating Energy Supply with Energy Demand," 2009 Energy Bill and CIBO Policy, Boiler MACT Update, CO2 Legislation/Regulations, Short vs. Tall Stacks, NAAQS, CAIR, and RCRA Ash Updates. |
| March | Energy: Climate change continues to drive all energy policy decision-making today - no coal, RPS & energy efficiency, and no new energy supplies. Our updated RPS policy statement is posted in our Members Only section under Policy & Position papers. We are working with other organizations to generate a basis for developing policy on EE & CHP. Technical: U.S. DOE has released a Notice of Intent for an upcoming solicitation for cost-shared combined heat and power (CHP), waste heat recovery, district energy, and industrial energy efficiency projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This funding opportunity will be released in March 2009. Be prepared to apply by completing the pre-registration process described in this article. Environment: On March 18th CIBO and other trade organizations met with EPA, OMB, NACAA and Earth Justice to discuss the 2nd part of the Boiler MACT data collection program to be able to collect representative & sufficient information for generating a rule that can be achieved in reality. |
| February | Energy: The Stimulus Package was signed into law Feb. 17th. From an initial reading, most of the spending is on energy efficiency in buildings, renewable energy production & affiliated infrastructure (renewable transmission and electric grid). Summary of article by Dan Baublis of CH2M Hill given at the January 2009 ABMA Meeting: "The International Situation and Its Effect On Boiler Projects From a Suppliers Perspective" Technical: The EPA will be selecting specific boilers burning certain fuels to conduct stack tests for emissions of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs). This testing will have to be conducted on a short time schedule - probably less than two weeks - and the testing methods are complex and require a level of sophistication and expertise beyond typical compliance or boiler performance tests. A list of contacts who may be able to help is included on page two of the newsletter. Environment: CIBO is planning on holding focus group meetings in conjunction with its quarterly meetings to discuss the impact of environmental activities on energy and operations areas of businesses. A short survey was sent to members for prioritizing these topics, and the first focus group will likely be held at the June meeting. Company Profiles: AECOM Environment - The new face of ENSR Solios Environment |
| January | Energy: Henry Hub NG price setting per EIA: $4.50/MMBtu and oil less than $40/barrel. This is due to lower demand, but when demand rises these prices will also. The Economic Stimulus Package would be an ideal way to fund energy projects but many are looking at high cost and long range wind, solar & other technologies not currently viable. There is a push to adopt anti-coal GHG mitigation policies. We may need a quick response on RPS proposals as the energy legislation evolves: contact CIBO staff to get involved. Technical: CIBO will be releasing a survey shortly regarding a new way of looking at technical issues. If you would like to review the Energy Efficiency Handbook, contact CIBO. Environment: We have a chart in the newsletter on status of legislation on Draft Test Plan, Solid Waste ANPRM, PS-17 CPMS and HMWI MACT. |
| 2008 | Highlights |
| December | Energy: Congress will begin a two week Lame Duck Session on December 8th. There is a chance that an energy bill will be drafted for the Senate floor on January 21st. Climate Change will probably be the focus of the bill, with new studies showing the "greatest increase in CO2 ever". Technical: CIBO will be developing a plan and needs requirements to address a loss of knowledge within the ICI sector on boilers and fundamental education, conference and support information for CIBO members, state regulators, boiler operators and those trying to regulate boilers in Congress or through the federal agencies. Environment: There is a faction of the environmental community and NACAA that want to see CO2 regulated under the Clean Air Act. EPA has already proposed regulations which could reach lawn mowers and airplane emissions. CIBO and other associations have filed comments supporting the proposition that the Clean Air Act is not the place for any regulation of CO2. On the Boiler MACT Front, the courts have set the timetable for proposal of the Area Source, Boiler MACT and Fuels definition for July 15, 2009 with final rules by July 15, 2010. Company Profiles: AMETEK Process Instruments |
| November | Energy: The Senate has been preoccupied with the election and the financial crisis. We continue to work with Senator Dorgan (D-ND) on the Clean Coal/Carbon Capture and Sequestration proposal. Technical: CIBO will begin to develop some fundamental education pieces to address what a boiler is, the first of which will be the fundamentals of integrating boiler design and combustion. Environment: EPA is going through the Boiler MACT data responses to determine the next steps.To continue the drive for a proposed Boiler MACT Rule next year, the Small Business Administration Regulatory Equitability and Fairness Act (SBREFA) panel will begin to address impacts on small business on November 13th. Bob Bessette will be one of the panel members. Company Profiles: Golder Associates, Inc. |
| September/October | Energy: The House has passed an Energy Bill with limited OCS & no moratorium on leasing; it must be more than 50 miles off shore with no incentives for the states. This is a 'no-go' in the Senate. This may come up in a Lame Duck Session after the elections. On October 7th a discussion draft of a Climate Change Bill amending the Clean Air Act was published by Dingell and Boucher. CIBO is reviewing this. Technical: The Technical Committee is working with the Comm. Education & Outreach Committee to develop tools and delivery for solving the problem of decreasing lack of personnel to troubleshoot boilers and maximize their performance. We are continuing to work with ASME & DOE on the Energy Efficiency Standards under development. We are looking for comments on the draft Steam Systems protocol before final standards are issued. Check out website www.superiorenergyperformance.net for additional information. Environment: Boiler MACT II and the ANPR on CO2 are the two main issues. The EPA survey is at survey.erg.com/ss/wsb.dll/s/7g8d/. Hamworthy Peabody Combustion put together a chart on the NACAA Model Rule defining better the realities of combustion & boiler operation. CIBO is offering to make a presentation to any state or group covering the short class on combustion and boiler design integration and the status of 112j. The EPA ANPR on CO2 can be found at: www.epa.gov/climatechange/anpr.html. CIBO is working with the greater Chamber ACCESS work group and will comment by November 28th. On October 7th EPA released a prepublication notice of its final Definition of Solid Waste Rule. Company Profiles: Environmental Resources Management Combustion Components Assoc. |
| August | Energy: As we get closer to the elections, many energy bills have been introduced in Congress. CIBO will be closely monitoring all of these. Technical: The IECT VI Conference in Portland Maine provided boiler owners, equipment suppliers and regulators a forum for discussing potential impacts of the new MACT and NAAQS rules, what a boiler is able to do relative to overall emission performance, and the importance of boiler designs for new and existing units to achieve optimum performance vs. combustion efficiency. CIBO will be developing a plan to assist in educating owners, regulators and the public regarding fuel, boiler and operations fundamentals in a holistic approach as new regulations are developed. Environment: EPA has just released the first part of the 114 letters Questionnaire for Boilers, Process Heaters, Incinerators and Other Combustion Units located at survey.erg.com/ss/wsb.dll/s/7g8d. We strongly suggest companies with any boiler or process heater complete the survey and participate in the discussions on how this can be used to help EPA and the States as the new rules are developed. |
| July | Energy: Due to higher gas prices, the President lifted the Executive order placing a moratorium on OCS drilling. Technical: The ASME Efficiency Certification Protocol development will be tested as a draft at a few Texas locations before final comments are issued. EPA is looking at a waste energy registration program. Let CIBO know if you would like to work as an outside reviewer. Environment: CIBO is working on a more detailed Model Rule and to help support Case-by-Case MACT discussions at the state level in the event it is needed. |
| June | Energy: The House Interior Appropriations Full Committee has tentatively scheduled a mark up of the 2007 Peterson OCS Natural Gas Amendment. This Amendment will lift federal bans on the development of natural gas and oil resources on the OCS from 50 miles off the coastline. Technical: Discussion of the DOE Save Energy Now (SEN) Program. Environment: Discussion of EPA's "Waste Energy Recovery Registry Rulemaking" and what EPA must do to comply. EPA will have someone at the Sept. EE meeting to discuss. NACAA Model MACT Rule for 112j discussion at June EE meeting will appear in the minutes. |
| May | Energy: The Senate is scheduled to take up the Lieberman-Warner Cap and Trade Bill. During the EE meeting we will discuss FERC' decoupling proposal and try to come to a consensus. Technical: CIBO sent out a survey on Baghouse performance whose results will be presented at the Emissions Conference in August. Increasing the amount of technical supporting information for state and federal activity on developing emissions regulation is a priority. Environment: CIBO commented on the NACAA's Boiler MACT summary graphs at their get-together in Florida. EPA's Boiler MACT 114 Letter ICR is available for comment from the OMB. |
| April | Energy: Oil is $115/barrel; coal is $125/ton; natural gas is $8/MMBtu. DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy posted an RFI to the private sector relating to an upcoming solicitation for up to $10 billion in applications for loan guarantees covering EERE technologies. Contact CIBO for a copy. Bob Bessette of CIBO gave a presentation on industrial energy at the Energy Cost Implications Workshop at West VA University. Technical: Fred Fendt of Rohm and Haas Company, CIBO’s Energy Committee Chair, was just named Committee Chair for ASME’s System Assessment Standards Consensus Committee responsible for developing the energy efficiency certification standards that will be used by DOE’s Superior Energy Performance Program. Environment: A paper presented at the CAPCA meeting by Amy Artmeier of MeadWestvaco Corp. and Bob Bessette of CIBO addresses Boiler MACT 112j Industrial Perspectives. |
| March | Energy: EPA’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program was updated; ASME is working with ANSI to establish an Industrial System Energy Assessment Standard. Environment: Climate change, new Ozone NAAQS, CISWI Waste/Fuels Definition, Boiler MACT, and how NACAA operates. Company Profiles: Peerless Mfg. Co. |
| February | Energy: CIBO will be meeting with Senators to discuss the Climate Change Policy statement (Members Only). We are still trying to figure out the impacts of HR-6 which was recently signed into law. Greenhouse Gas reporting is discussed. Environment: Since January CIBO has submitted 4 comments on environmental issues (Members Only) Technical: Update of the CIBO Energy Efficiency Handbook is moving forward. Company Profiles: Nationwide Boiler Inc. W.L. Gore & Assoc. |
| January | Upcoming energy workshop "Impacts of High and Volatile Energy Costs on Energy Intensive Industries: Coping Strategies and Future Research Needs" tentatively scheduled for April 9-10 at West Virginia University. CIBO has filed comments on MANE-VU, Flexible Air Permits, Fugitive Emissions, and NACAA PM 2.5 Menu of options. |